First Congregational Church
United Church of Christ

• Virginia Koop has moved as of June 11th, 2005. Virginia fell or collapsed on Mother's Day (no broken bones, etc) and her doctor said she needed more assistance than she is currently receiving. Her son and daughter moved her to Wynwood West which has only 40 residents and Virginia has a lovely corner apartment on the second floor which looks out into a wooded area. Please send cards and letters to Virginia.

• Kathy and Jerry Turnquist will both be included in the 9th edition of Who's Who of America's Teachers. To be included in the publication a student listed in either Who's Who Among American's High School Students or The National Dean's List must identify the educator as "the most influential teacher" during their academic career.
• Gina Green retired after 35 years of teaching. Her sister, Lucia, recently had successful hip replacement surgery.
• Jordan Sund was named valedictorian of her graduation class at Larkin High School.
• Oops! We goofed and inadvertently left Ryan Munson's name off the list of graduates last month. He graduated from Elgin High School.
• Donna Hoestedler was honored by the choir on June 5th for her many years of service to FCC's music ministry. She will be moving to Iowa.

7/01    Kaden Peterson
7/02    Emilie Kottmeier
7/03    Mary Vickers
7/04    Michael Barbezat
7/14    Robert Bayler
7/16    Mark Preradovic
7/19    Michelle Ann Schumacher
7/19    Andrew (A.J.) Mitchell
7/20    Jami Sund
7/21    Derick Dahlstrom
7/22    Danielle Dahlstrom
7/22    Benjamin Grote
7/23    Samantha Lynn Sell
7/24    Shirley Hokanson
7/25    Patti Scroggins
7/28    Ellen McDonald
7/31    Karie Widder
7/31    Christie Bowers
7/31    Cameron Leberecht

• Maurice and Elaine Munch celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 4.
• Jerry and Sue Trojanowski celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on June 5.

• George Hove had surgery at Alexian Brothers Hospital to replace a pacemaker. He is recuperating well.
• Betty Hargrave fell and broke seven ribs. After a brief stay in Sherman Hospital she is home and trying to recuperate.
• Dorothy Gerber spent more than a week at St. Joseph Hospital trying to clear up an infection. She has now returned to Rosewood Care Center.

• Edna Whittington, Tom Powell's great aunt, has been admitted to hospice care.
• Sherrie Szymanski, Lori Kemmler's cousin-in-law, is very seriously ill in Massachusetts.
• Long time member, Ruth Huntley, passed away on June 14. A funeral service at the church was lead by Dr. Donehoo on June 17.

Mission Trip Thank You Dinner

Please mark your calendars now for our Mission Trip Thank You Dinner. The mission trip group wants to show their gratitude to the congregation by hosting a Thank You Dinner on Sunday, July 17th immediately following the church service. We look forward to sharing the story of our trip during this luncheon. Please plan to come and share in our experience.

Vacation Bible School ? Serengeti Trek

We are looking forward to an exciting week of VBS. We already have many children signed up for this fun week. Our date is a little later than usual because of the mission trip and 4th of July, so mark your calendars for July 11th - 15th 9:30 - 12:15 at Wing Park shelter #2. In case of rain we will meet at church.

We'll be taking a trek to the Serengeti to learn more about our faith. This wonderful week will be just what is needed to put some excitement into the middle of your summer. So spread the word. Tell your friends that you want them to join you on an African Safari this summer. This program has something to offer all ages. Everyone will enjoy hearing Bible stories, playing games, singing those catchy songs, and making crafts. The older children will enjoy their camp-like experience which will include time for nature study, hikes, games and storytelling. Please make this week a priority for your family.

Of course we always need more volunteers, so let Deb Sell, or Beth Mitchell know if you are available to help with any aspect of the program.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

On June 12 these new members were welcomed into our church family:

Sue Ruf
Sponsor: Deb Sell Sue is a native of Hanover Park and was educated at Elgin High School and Elgin Community College. She is employed at Sherman Hospital in the Central Scheduling department and enjoys gardening, decorating, crafts, and cooking. Sue and her husband, Don, have a son, age 13, and a daughter, age 6.

Pat Segel
Sponsors: Brian and Mary Stark Pat was born and raised in Chicago. She received a bachelor's degree from DePaul University and a master's degree from Benedictine University. She is employed as the manager of the human resources department at David C. Cook Publishing here in Elgin. She enjoys gardening and photography and likes to be actively involved in her community. Her interest in historical preservation has led her into the Gifford Park Neighborhood Association where she is the current president. She is married to David Segel, and has 2 grown children and 3 grandchildren.

Cecelia Snider
Sponsor: Glenna Preradovic Cecelia is joining her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren (the Preradovic family) at FCC. A native of Harmony, Illinois, she attended Grout and Abbot schools and Elgin High. She was employed at Chicago Rawhide for 25 years but has been retired for the last 20. Cecelia enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.

MISSION GRANTS COMMITTEE VACANCIES

Two 3 year positions on the Mission Grants Committee are now open. They will expire in 2007-2008. The Committee meets 4-5 times a year, mostly from November-January. Grant requests are reviewed and determination of recipients is made prior to the Annual Meeting in January. One spring meeting is held to determine themes for the coming year. Interested parties need to submit their names to Tom Powell, Church Moderator, before the July 19th Church Council meeting. Additional information is available from Carl Flaks.

Acolytes

7-03    Alex Halfpenny & Taylor Powers
7-10    Dennis Turnquist & Nicole Lewellyn
7-17    Andrew Duncan & Keaton Fahnestock
7-24    Phillip Brictson & Emerson Lewis

Outdoor Ministries Summer Camp 2005 God's Calling

llinois Conference Camps are now accredited by the American Camping Association! Both Tower Hill and Pilgrim Park offer quality Christian camping experiences for youth and adults.

Summer is here. Time to plan for exciting activities, fun in the sun, and learning more about God's world. Come join in the fun at Tower Hill and Pilgrim Park with our 2005 summer activities.

• Looking for family programs? Try Constellations or Grandparents and Me.
• Is this the first time away from home? Try Tenderfoot Camp.
• Are you in confirmation class? Try our Confirmation Camp.
• Just want to have fun and meet new friends? Come spend the week at any of our camps.
• Looking for something that will stretch your boundaries and renew your sprit? Contact Renewal in the Wilderness, a program for teens, adults, and clergy that is endorsed by the Outdoor Ministries.

Pilgrim Park is near Princeton, IL. Tower Hill is near Sawyer, MI. Both camps have much to offer. Come and see why. Scholarships are available for both camps. Scholarships are dependent upon donations and require a pastor's letter.

For registration materials, contact Tara Pettee at odmregistrar@hotmail.com.

Christ Care Group

WAIT, (not the former radio station,) but what about your WEIGHT? Are you interested in a ChristCare group this summer whose purpose will be helping others and yourself lose a few pounds? We will be asking what works for you and sharing what works "for me." This group will meet between the two services, from 9:20 until 10:00 on several Sundays until late August. If you have been losing weight, or would like to, or would like to learn how others are losing some weight, come to our first meeting in the library on Sunday, July 3rd, at 9:20. We will have some (appropriate) snacks and ideas to share. Curious? Just contact John Kauffman, a "loser" who is interested in losing some more, by email jksts@aol.com or after worship.

Thanks from the ChristCare Boutique!

The last session of the season for the ChristCare Boutique took place on Sunday, April 24th, and it was another fine event. Net proceeds from this session combined with the previous five sessions totaled $1,349.50! The proceeds have been donated to benefit the Adult Program of The Larkin Center. We want to say "Thanks!" to everyone who shopped with us because "You've made a difference!"

Ron & Liz Schaaf
Ron & Karen Carlson
Mark & Mary Hartwig
Pat Lindquist

Stewardship

I wanted to speak to you all this month about church growth and commitment. This is definitely a part of stewardship that many of us take for granted. On "New Member Sundays" we all watch the people and their sponsors walk up to the front of the sanctuary and reaffirm their baptism, answer the questions that Dr. Donehoo poses to them, and then we, as a congregation pledge to receive them as part of our "family." These ceremonies have happened several times a year for which we are all grateful. More than one person has remarked "how wonderful it is to look across the sanctuary and see the pews full."

I wonder if any of us realize the traditions and history behind the growth of the Christian Church.

In the second chapter of Acts, the early church begins. "All who believed were together?they attended the temple together, praising God and having favor with all people?and the Lord added to their numbers day by day."    Acts 2:44-47

These early Christians had commitment, and literally, risked their lives to have faith in, and believe in the teachings of Jesus. Luckily we don't risk persecution or death today to practice our faith.

There are four Greek words that early Christians used to mark faithful living. They can also be guides for us today.

First is "koinonia," which means fellowship. We must spend time together "sharing our joys and sorrows, and so fulfill the law of Christ" as Paul once said.

Second is diakonia from which we get the term "deacon." This has to do with service, which can take many forms but is always concerned with building up life wherever it begins to break down.

Third is kerygma, which testifies that Jesus Christ is Lord. We do this not only through our worship on Sundays, but also in the way we live our lives and demonstrate to those around us the importance of our faith.

Finally is martyria, which has to do with surrendering something of value for the sake of another person or cause that we count more precious even more than our own life. How many of us are ready to commit more than losing a little sleep on Sunday mornings or giving up a little of our disposable income to consider the possibility that our faith may actually demand something of our lives?

If we really are serious about seeing our church "go places," we really must be ready to commit ourselves to sacrificing some things in our work loads, our social and recreational lives, and our busy family schedules so we can participate more meaningfully in the fellowship (koinonia), the service (diakonia), and the witness (kerygma) of this church of Jesus Christ. That's what surrendering one's life to Christ (martyria) asks of us. Are each one of us ready to answer that question?

With summer here, are we ready to find our regular place at church on Sunday mornings and other times during the week? Are we willing to make our lives count for something in this broken world. Together we can offer our love and service to God whose grace knows no bounds. See you in church!

In Christ's service,
Patti Scroggins