June 17, 2007 Volume 39, Issue 12A Publication of The Union Church of Hinsdale, U.C.C.

When the Cicadas Come

By now the cicadas may seem like old news, but they continue to fascinate those of us who are experiencing them for the first time. You’ve got to admire the handiwork of a Creator who hardwires these creatures for a 17 year life cycle that is as predictable and purposeful as rain. The sixteen years underground may seem like a waste to those who cannot see their hidden preparations, but they lay in wait for a majestic dance that testifies to the continuity and wonder of life.

Through their cyclical dance, the soil is aerated to receive rain, creatures who may have experienced drought or famine are given a food supply rich in protein, trees fulfill part of their purpose as a dating venue, nesting ground and nursery. For the observant, cicadas offer a reassuring glimpse that all manner of things are well, despite our human attempts to prove otherwise.

During a 17-year cicada cycle, children are born and raised, educations are completed and relationships bonded, major symphonies are written and complete their tour, wars are waged and concluded, nations heal. Two presidents complete extended terms, governments exchange hands. Crises unfold and resolve, becoming part of collective memory and the oral history of a people.

When we try to imagine the world as God crafted it, our own rhythms and cycles become more apparent. Like watching cicadas, we search for the meaning and significance of human acts and through faith and watch for God’s purposes to unfold across time. We differ from cicadas and other creatures in our capacity to effect the world during our human cycle of 10 years, 45, or 90.

In an idle moment this week, I discerned that it is likely that I will live through six cicada cycles. Given my rich genetic pool, I’ll probably hit 100 if I don’t mess it up by driving too fast on I-55 in the wrong lane. The first three cycles, for good or ill, are past. I can reflect on them, rejoice in their triumphs, grieve in their sorrows, but it is done. Like the refreshing promises of God after our prayer of confession, I recall that the past is over. Like a newly emerging cicada, I affirm that “If anyone is in Christ, a new creation, behold the old is past, the new is come.”

I don’t know about you, but this is good news for me. When we look ahead, we can ponder how many 17-year cycles may remain for us to fulfill our own purpose on earth. We can reflect on the impact

we may make to shape the world with the resources we have been given, and to thereby contribute to the great dance of life as God has ordained. As the Psalmist has said, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made… God knit you together in your mother’s womb.” Given all the gifts and capacities that you bring forward into this present, what potential does God have yet for you to accomplish for God’s sake in your sweet short life?

All year we have been asking the same thing of the church. We have recalled our rich history and recounted our accomplishments. We have struggled with wet wings to fly into a fresh chapter in our history, and observed the challenges and opportunities this has presented to us. As the last of the newly born cicadas fall from branches and burrow their way back down into the womb of the earth, we move forward as a church into our own new history. The choices we make now will shape the faith life and stories of God’s work in and among us for generations to come.

Last week our Psalm reflected, “When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established, what is humankind that you are mindful of them and the children of humankind that you care for them?” By the time the cicadas come again, I will be 71 years old. I wonder what God hopes to accomplish through this next cycle in our life together. How about you?

God’s Grace and Peace

Verlee A. Copeland

Messagefrom theMinistry

Team

Church Picnic: June 24, 2007We will have only ONE worship service on June 24, to bring the whole church community together at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. The Mad Monks of Melody, a seven-piece Dixieland band, will provide all the music for the service. The annual picnic with grilled brats and games for all ages will begin in the dining room after worship. Ticket prices are $4.00 a person with 4 years and under free. We are planning an indoor picnic this year, thanks to those 17-year cicadas!

Save the Date: Harvest of JoyThe Union Church of Hinsdale Dinner Dance will be on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at the Ruth Lake Country Club in Hinsdale, IL. Mark your calendar today!

ECP Needs Teachers & HelpersThe Early Childhood Program has several opening in their staff. If you have an interest in working in our pre-school please contact Jennifer Keldahl at jkeldahl@uchinsdale.org or (630) 323.4303 ext. 20, for information or application.

CHICAGO UNITED EDEN CUE S E M I N A R I E S o f t h e

Thank you from the students, faculty and staff of Chicago, United and Eden Semi-naries to the members of Union Church of Hinsdale! Your gift of $12,502.00 in 2006 is helping to prepare leaders for the United Church of Christ at our UCC seminaries.

Together we are preparing faithful leaders for the future!

THE UNION CHURCH OF HINSDALE137 South Garfield AvenueHinsdale, IL 60521-4298

www.uchinsdale.org630.323.4303 (Telephone)

630.323.4407 (Fax)

OUR STAFF

Senior Minister:Rev. Verlee A. Copeland

Minister for ChristianFormation and Mission:

Rev. Dr. Thom Parrott-Sheffer

Minister for Membership andDiscipleship:

Rev. Dr. Julie Ruth Harley

Director of Youth Ministries:David Knecht

Director of Music Ministries:Michael Surratt

Director of Choirs:Gary Wilhelm

Director of EarlyChildhood Programs:

Jennifer Keldahl

Director of Children’sChristian Education:

Penny Johnson

Executive Manager:Merrilee Hall

Financial Manager:Chris Biank

Project Manager:Joel Gratcyk

Systems Manager:Mary Bock

WORSHIP SERVICES

Journey WorshipSaturdays at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday Worship8:00, 9:00 and 10:00 a.m.

Jesus And Me (JAM)2nd Sundays at 11:15 a.m.

Prayer and Healing Service3rd Sundays at 7:00 p.m.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday through Friday8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sundays8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Invitation to Faith: Transformative Worship

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Invitation to Faith: Christian Formation for Children

To: SonForce Kids Special AgentsFrom: Commander Johnson

Our mission soon begins. I want to remind you of a few last minute details to remember. Pickup your mission uniform (T-shirt) and packet of instructions on Sunday, June 17 af-ter worship. If you can’t make it on Sunday, make sure you stop by Monday, between 10:00 and 11:00 to get your mission information.

Each mission begins at 12:45 sharp beginning on Monday, June 18. We will end by 3:30, so have your M or D (Mom or Dad) pick you up at that time. We will be decoding secret clues each day. With each clue we can advance from Level 1 to Level 5 agents.

I’ll give you a hint for Monday’s mission. Come prepared to TRUST! We are going to have a great time training to be special agents for God.

Prepare to have fun!!!

JUNE 17: Pickup mission uniform and instructions

JUNE 18 – 22: at 12:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Mission Teams 1-5

JUNE 22:Mission Closing Ceremony at 3:30 p.m.

JUNE 24:Mission Celebration at 10:00 a.m.

Prayer Book AvailableThe book, Together We Pray, will be avail-able for purchase for $14.99 throughout the month of June at our weekend ser-vices and during the week at the church offi ces. We encourage anyone with a younger family to get this book and use it through the summer as you pray together with your family.

Together We Pray is a book of prayers written especially for families with chil-dren. It brings together grandparents, par-ents, older children, and even the young-est child to give thanks and to ask for God's help and mercy for the family and for the world.

For so many families, life today seems fast-paced and chaotic. Stopping for a mo-ment to breathe-pausing and expressing thanks and gratitude to God-can be very powerful, even if the pause is relatively brief. Together We Pray helps families to take that pause, to share in God's love and grace, and to do so in the most profound and lasting way-together as a family.

Invitation to Faith: Christian Formation for Youth

Invitation to Faith: Christian Formation for Adults

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11:15 a.m. each Sunday

in Rowell Hall

Our Adult Forum has changed its name to The Union Forum. We choose this name to invite children and youth to attend the presenta-tions that interest them.

June 17 – “Shine, God’s People” Celebrating 50 years of the UCC, Part 2 – We are an open and affirming church; We are a peace with justice church - led by Sue Becker

June 24 – Church Picnic NO Union Forum

July 1 – “Finding Balance with Energy Medicine and Energy Psychology,” led by Nancy Ging, therapist.

July 8 – “Our Stained Glass Windows: A Guided Tour,” led by Virginia Robinson. We will view the windows in South Parlor and Rowell Hall, learning the meaning behind their symbols.

Child care is provided each week for children from birth through age 4 in the nursery. If you would like child care for children ages 5 through 5th grade, please contact Rev. Julie Ruth Harley one week in advance at (630)

323.4303 ext. 14.

Do you have other ideas for The Union Forum?

The schedule through the summer is posted online at the church web-site: www.uchinsdale.org. We are now scheduling Forums for the fall. If you have a suggestion, please contact Rev. Harley at 630.323.4303 ext. 14 or jrharley@uchinsdale.org.

Letter from Illinois Conference MinisterTO: The Congregations and Pastors of the Illinois Conference

Dear Friends in Christ,

Grace, peace and joy to you! My second term as Illinois Conference Minister ends June 2008 and this letter comes to advise you that after much prayer and conversation with others, I will not be available for consideration for a third term. This

decision may lead you to ask a number of questions so I have tried to anticipate some of them and offer here some responses.

In my several years as Conference Minister, I believe we have done some im-portant growing, learning and serving God's mission together and that I have made a contribution to that reality. This ministry has been a great privilege and many joys and blessings have entered my life because of it. However I have come to believe that I now offered the best I have to offer and that timing is right for me to see other ministry options for the future and for the Conference to have new leadership in a time of transition - whether that transition is in rela-tion to a complete restructure plan, as proposed, or in some other form.

After conversation with the Conference President and Personnel Committee, we agreed that it might be helpful for all in the Conference to know about this decision so that the fact that I would have no role in any new structure being considered might be clearly known. Further, this decision makes it possible for the Conference to begin its work in preparing for a Conference Minister transition shortly after Annual Meeting, regardless of any decisions about the restructure proposal.

Your excellent Conference Council, assisted by the also excellent Personnel Committee will guide you carefully through that process, with the capable and experienced assistance of the Minister for Conference Relations in the national offi ces.

I think these can be soaring, highly productive months for our ministry together and I have every intention of being the very best Conference Minister I can be for the Illinois Conference during my remaining time in this position.

Thank you for your continuing support, prayers and covenant part-nership. Together we are all the Illinois Conference and surly God has great plans for the mission of this Conference in the future.

With You in Christ's Service,

Jane Fisler Hoffman

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Invitation to Faith: Expanding Mission For All People

Money Available For Hands-on

Mission Work!The Christian Mission Ministry would like to give money to Union Church members who wish to do hands on mission work.

The project should be for a specifi c one-time project or for a designated period of time and not for the ongo-ing funding of an agency. The project should help the less fortunate members of our society. This money should not supplement the pastoral fund nor should it supplement current church programs.

Those interested in applying for these funds should obtain the Special Proj-ects Guidelines and submit an Applica-tion for Special Projects. The Guide-lines and Application can be found in the Gathering Place or by calling the Mission Ministry Agency Committee Chairpersons, Craig Schaefer or Eliza-beth Zott.

The applications will be evaluated by the Agency Committee of the Christian Mission Ministry which will make rec-ommendations to the Ministry for its vote.

Intergenerational Mission EventSaturday to Sunday, August 11-12, 2007!

Everyone is invited to join Pastor Thom as we journey to St. John U.C.C. in Chicago; where we will assist the church in their annual sale, do yard work and perform some long overdue

repairs. We will hear from their pastor, Dr. Charlotte Nold, about their on-go-ing ministries. We will eat at a local Mexican restaurant (it is yummy). And we will worship with them on Sunday morning. This is a perfect opportunity for middle-schoolers, families, and anyone interested in doing some local mission. Contact Pastor Thom for information and registration.

Thank YouThe Night Ministry: We wanted to thank you and your congregation for the gift…that was raised from your Easter Offering. We feel very grate-ful that you chose The Night Ministry as a recipient of this generous dona-tion. We will use this gift to help reach out to thousands of people we serve in Chicago’s vulnerable communities.

Project Hope SaleEveryone is invited to the 15th Annu-al Annie’s Attic Garage Sale, for the benefi t of Project Hope – A Ministry of the St. Anne Catholic Church, Bar-rington, IL. The sale will take place Thursday, June 28 through Saturday, June 30, 2007, on the campus of St. Anne’s Church, 320 E. Franklin Street – Barrington, IL.

Gas Cards for Homeless FamiliesCan you provide gas gift cards for a homeless family in DuPage county? Bridge Communities, a non-profi t transitional housing organization, with which this church partners, is seeking

supporters to provide gift cards in any amount for gasoline retailers.

The current high price of gasoline has strained the budgets of Bridge Commu-nities client families – many of whom are trying to make ends meet on $900-$1200 per month. Filling a gas tank just to commute to and from work each month can easily be $200.

Bridge Communities case managers provide the gas cards to the most needy families. To donate gas cards to the Bridge Communities, please send them to the Bridge offi ce: ATTN: Mark Milligan, Bridge Communities, 505 Crescent Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, or call the offi ce at (630) 545.0610, ext. 12.

For more information you can visit the Bridge website at:http://www.bridgecommunities.org

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Invitation to Faith: Community Life

Union Church & PillarsUnion Church has supported Pillars since 2000. Formerly known as Pillars Community Services, the new Pillars result-

ed from a merger last year with Community Care Options. The agency now provides comprehensive community social services to 10,000 clients in 37 com-munities in southeastern DuPage County and southwestern Cook County.

The largest part of its $16 million budget goes to mental health services for adults and children which provides basically everything, except in-patient care. There is a job training program, as well as a special program to address the needs of the homeless mentally ill.

Pillars provides extensive domestic violence and sexual assault services, includ-ing a 24-hour crisis line. The Constance Morris House is the only domestic violence shelter in the near western suburbs. There are also services for the perpetrators of domestic violence.

Some of the other valuable programs that Pillars offers include the LaGrange Area Transitional Housing (LATH), which provides housing and mentors to families (many of whom were at the Constance Morris House). There is also substance abuse treatment for adults and adolescents including DUI Risk Edu-cation. Pillars serves over 100 families in its Head Start program. A program called Buddy’s Place offers bereavement counseling for children who have ex-perienced the death of a parent.

For more information please visit their website at www.pillarscommunity.org or call (708) 795.4800. To make a donation or to volunteer for Head Start, LATH or the Constance Morris House, please call 708-698-5500.

Annual Historic House Tour to Benefit PillarsOn, Sunday, June 24, Pillars is hosting The Tenth Annual House Tour of Historic La Grange: Cel-ebrating Ten Years of Open Hearts and Homes. From 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., guests may tour six distinctive homes with varying architectural styles and beautiful decor. Tick-ets may be purchased for $35 at any of the homes the day of the tour or from local merchants for $30 through June 22. Please call the Pillars Development Offi ce at (708) 698.5500 ext. 214 for more information or to purchase tickets.

DeathsFormer members Ruth & Bob Gilchrist’s son David died in a sky-diving accident.

Kristy Brindley’s father recently passed away. Condolences to both families.

Attention:Book Worms

Summer Work Tour is collecting new or gently used children's books appropriate for 4-12. We hope to start a Children's Library in Coahoma, Mississippi. There is a drop-off box located in the Gathering Place at Union Church or you can call Heather Stoffer at (630) 794.9161. Thank You!

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...2 3 4 5 6 7

TRANSFORMATIVE WORSHIP

CHRISTIAN FORMATION FOR CHILDREN

CHRISTIAN FORMATION FOR YOUTH

CHRISTIAN FORMATION FOR ADULTS

EXPANDING MISSION FOR ALL PEOPLE

COMMUNITY LIFE

Quality Health Care for ALLCall the Capitol Switchboard in Springfi eld to contact your General Assembly members: 1 (888) 801.4426

Here are the important points we need to communicate to our legislators:

* Now is the time to enact affordable, quality health care accessible to all Illinoisans. * We urge you to join and work with Governor Blagojevich to accomplish this now. * We want affordable, accessible quality health care to be achieved during this legislative session!

Things to keep in mind when you call: 1. When you call the toll-free number, you will be directly connected with an operator at the Illinois Capitol Switchboard. Simply tell them the name of your state senator or representative OR your district number (found on your voter registration card) and they will connect you to his or her offi ce. 2. If you don’t know the name of your senator or representative, or you need to look up their district number, you can fi nd this information easily at: http://www.elections.state.il.us/DistrictLocator/AddressSearch.aspx

After you've made the calls, send your legislators an email to add extra weight to our message. To fi nd email addresses for your representative and senator, visit: http://cbhconline.org/HCJC/IL_Legislative_contacts.html

For more information about the Illinois Covered plan, visit http://www.illinoiscovered.com. To get further involved in the fi ght for better health care justice, contact visit: http://www.ilmaternal.org/ and http://cbhconline.org/.