First Congregational Church
United Church of Christ

Wondering what all the buzz is about? Is there a place for you in one of our ChristCare groups? Come to fellowship hall during coffee hour on September 18 to find out. Our current and new ChristCare group leaders will be on hand with information about their groups, and you can ask all the questions you want. Perhaps one of our existing groups will interest you, or maybe one of our brand new groups will tickle your fancy. Either way there are excellent opportunities for growth, service, and fellowship in a ChristCare group.

• Dorothy Cook celebrated her 80th birthday on August 18.
• Karen Rothlisberger and David Calvert were united in marriage on August 13th by Pastor Lois.
• John Pollnow, Jr. and Ann Marie Lane were united in marriage on August 6th. Pastor Bucher officiated at the service.

Adult Education classes resume on September 11at 9:15 am. The entire month of September will be dedicated to "The Roots of Terrorism." Child care will be provided.

The tragic events of September 11th, 2001 have caused many people to seek answers and understanding about the roots of terrorism. Our speakers will explore some of the underlying causes of the violence. As everyday Americans we see only filtered images, edited sound bytes and gain additional information from newspapers & magazines. In contrast, our speakers bring a rich knowledge & understanding of this topic through study, travel, & immersion in background for the courses they teach. Please join us for this important topic.

September 11th
To Be Announced

September 18th
Theories and Causes of Terrorism
Speaker: Dan Kempton, Ph.D
Chair, Department of Political Science
Associate Professor of Political Science
Northern Illinois University

September 25th
The Top 10 Things Every American
Should Know About Terrorism
Speaker: Richard Farkas, Ph.D
Professor of Political Science
DePaul University

**Coming in October...

• Footsteps of Peter and Paul: A Study of the book of Acts
• A discussion of the book God's Politics by Jim Wallis

9/03    Kathryn Dearth
9/03    Kirsten Pedersen
9/03    James Schock
9/03    Mari Rahn
9/05    Rachille Neville
9/06    Dennis Leberecht
9/07    Suzie Lewis
9/09    Curt Phillips
9/09    Max Aldred
9/10    Bonnie Morrow
9/11    Robert Lohse
9/13    Patricia Henrys
9/14    Doug MacKinney
9/14    Sue Perrin
9/14    Andrew Banwart
9/15    Gerald Hochberger
9/17    Kathy Turnquist
9/19    Steve Aldred
9/22    Mary Hartwig
9/23    Danikka Preradovic
9/24    Leonel Solis
9/27    Dale Ells
9/28    Jan Embree

• Dale and Betty Ells celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary on August 23.

• Jim Ellsworth had heart surgery at Sherman Hospital on July 22. He is home and recuperating well.
• Walter Van Puyenbroeck, brother of Rae Ellen Gerber, had heart surgery at Sherman Hospital. He is home and recuperating well.
• Pam Widder has been recuperating from a fracture to her foot. We wish her a speedy recovery.

• George Hove passed away on July 25. A funeral service, lead by Pastor Donehoo, was held in the sanctuary on August 2.
• Leigh O'Connor passed away on July 28. A funeral service, lead by Pastor Donehoo, was held in the sanctuary on August 1.
• Former member Clint Munch, brother to Maury Munch and uncle to Sue Perrin, passed away on August 17.
• Former member Betty Medearis passed away on August 20.
• John Pollnow, Sr. passed away on August 18th.

Sister to Sister will begin regular meetings now that fall is arriving. We will meet on the second Thursday night of the month. However, our first meeting will be the Fall Celebration of Women (see the article about this) on the third Thursday, September 15th at 6:30 p.m. Our second meeting will be Thursday, October13th. Please mark the second Thursday of every month on your calendar now and save it to spend sharing Sister to Sister. Our usual meeting time will be at 7:00 p.m. in the library, but we will be meeting at 6:30 for the Salad Supper at the Fall Celebration of Women in September.

Damaris is a women's fellowship group that meets each month to go out to dinner together. We meet on the fourth Thursday of each month. The September Damaris meeting will be at Olive Garden in West Dundee on September 22nd at 6:30p.m. For more information please contact Lois Bucher or Lee Ellsworth.

Confirmation classes are held each year so that 8th graders can explore more about their faith. Our Confirmation classes will kick off on Wednesday September 29th at 7:30 in the library. This meeting is an orientation session for parents as well as students. The first regular class will be on October 5th and continue every other Wednesday night 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Parents take a vow at baptism to raise their child in the church so that he/she may grow and come to their own understanding of what it means to be a faithful Christian. Confirmation classes provide students with the opportunity to learn more about the Christian faith and the United Church of Christ. At the conclusion of the classes in the spring, confirmands will have an opportunity to affirm their faith through the Rite of Confirmation. If you have any questions about our program please contact Lois.

As the children prepare to begin another year we also gear up for another year of church school classes. Sunday School classes kick-off on Sunday, September 11th at 10:15.

The children attend worship with their families until after the children's message and then are dismissed to their classes. We are very excited about our Sunday School program for this year. We have added some exciting components to the program. Each week the children will hear a biblical story in their storytelling class and will do an activity related to that story. In addition, they will go to another class: Crafts, Exploration (science or cooking activities related to the biblical theme), Games or Discipleship (character education). We are hoping that these additional classes will help the children learn more about the story using all of their senses. Spread the word - bring a friend and come and learn more about our faith.

FROG Friday was so much fun last year that we can't wait to kick it off again this year. This youth group for kindergarteners through sixth graders will meet on the third Friday evening of the month. Our first meeting is Friday, September 16th. It is an evening of fun, which includes dinner, story, crafts, music, and games. Our time together will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a pizza dinner. Following dinner the children will rotate through the variety of activities. We will conclude at 8:30 p.m.

Our hope for this program is that children will have an opportunity to build stronger relationships with their peers from church while having fun learning more about their faith through story, crafts, songs, and games. We also hope that it will provide some time away for parents to have an opportunity to go out to dinner, or do some shopping, or just spend some quiet time at home. However, we are asking that parents consider volunteering to help at least one Friday night during the year. We are also looking for parents who will commit to being there every time as part of the program team.

It is our hope that children will sign-up to participate in FROG Fridays and be regular in attendance so that they can develop the feeling of being part of the group. There is a minimal charge for each session. It is $5 per time. We are asking that payments be made in two lump sums to make bookkeeping easier ($15 for the fall and $15 for the winter). You can also pay for the whole year at once ($30). Please let us know if the cost is a problem - we can provide scholarship funding. We do want everyone to be able to participate. Non-church members are welcome to join us too, so invite your children's friends to take part in the program. Please complete the REGISTRATION FORM and return it to church by September 11th.

FCC is already a place where we feel at home and make newcomers feel welcome, but we can always do a better job. One way to encourage fellowship and be more "visitor friendly" is to wear our name tags each Sunday. Beginning September 11 a group of enthusiastic volunteers will be handing out name tags as we enter the sanctuary for worship at 10:15. Be sure and return your name tag when you leave so you can wear it again the following Sunday. Just think - every week we'll be on a first-name basis with everybody! (By the way, be sure to check out the new revolving name tag rack designed and built by Ron Carlson with help from Glenn Murphy. It's beautiful!)

Beginning September 11 FCC will use a customized bulletin with artwork designed just for us by artist Chris Jacobsen. Wait till you see it! Thanks to Barb Burton-Halfpenny and the Ministry of Worship and Hospitality for all their hard work on this project.

Our custodian of many years, David Aguina, is no longer employed at FCC. Until new arrangements can be made, please be extra vigilant about locking doors, turning out lights, taking trash to the dumpster, and other forms of building care. Also please note that all outside locks on the building, and some inside locks, have been changed, so if you have keys to those doors they will no longer work. Please see Pat Calvin for replacements if you truly have a need to access the building when no one is in the office. Thanks for your consideration.

Patient Care Volunteer Training, a 10-week program for caring individuals who want to provide emotional and practical support to hospice patients and their families, begins Sept. 19 from 9:00am-noon or Sept 20 from 6:30-9:30pm. at Fox Valley Hospice in Geneva. Classes cover topics such as: interpersonal communication, the grief process, and challenges of dying. All classes are offered in Spanish and English. Application and interview required. This training is free of charge. For more information, please e-mail Mary at momallev@foxvalleyhospice.net.

Church, civic and/or social groups are also needed to organize and complete bulk-mailing projects, patient monthly gifts, and work on landscaping for FVH throughout the year. Group leaders call Mary.

Fox Valley Hospice provides compassionate care throughout life and in loss as they serve individuals in Kane and Kendall counties and portions of DuPage, Cook, and McHenry counties.

Our church is blessed to have several ordained, licensed, and in-process UCC clergy in our midst. Lois and Paris have been meeting with them to develop the best methods for utilizing their talents. As a result, we are pleased to announce the formation of a Congregational Associate program. At the August 16th meeting of the Church Council the following job description was approved:

In order to expand and enhance the ministry of First Congregational United Church of Christ of Elgin, our church calls individuals as Congregational Associates. A Congregational Associate is defined as one who...

• Is a member in good standing of First Congregational United Church of Christ of Elgin and is an ordained, licensed, or commissioned minister in the United Church of Christ, or holds comparable standing in another denomination, and demonstrates affinity for and understanding of United Church of Christ theology and polity as well as an appreciation for the mission and ministry of First Congregational United Church of Christ of Elgin.
• Exhibits gifts and competencies for ministries needed within this congregation which have been observed and affirmed by the congregation.
• Has been nominated for this position by the Senior Pastor and endorsed by the Church Council. Upon the dissolution of the Senior Pastor-congregation relationship the Congregational Associate relationship is terminated.
• Serves under the supervision of the Senior Pastor on an ?as needed, as available? basis without remuneration.

Also at the August 16th meeting the Council approved our first two Congregational Associates. Pat Lindquist has been called as Congregational Associate for Spirituality and Wellness, and John Kauffman has been called as Congregational Associate for Small Group Ministries. We welcome their gifts and look forward to their leadership among us.

9/4       Alex Halfpenny and Taylor Powers
9/11    Andrew Duncan and Keaton Fahnestock
9/18    Phillip Brictson and Emerson Lewis
9/25    Taylor Stark and Nick Kemmler

• Jordan Sund - DePaul University
• Cat Iverson - Elgin Community College
• Nick Stackowiak - UIC
• Kate Reuter - Elmhurst College
• Erin Powell - Albion College
• Ryan Munson - Northern Illinois Univ.

It's time for our children's choirs to start up again for the year. Mrs. Roberta Reed will once again be the director of our Cherub and Chapel choirs. Cherub choir is for children in kindergarten through second grades and the Chapel choir is for children in third through 8th grades. These choirs will meet every Tuesday afternoon beginning on September 20th. This year the Cherub Choir will meet for one-half hour from 4:00 - 4:30 and the Chapel Choir will meet for 45 minutes from 4:30 - 5:15. If you have children participating in both choirs you will be able to drop your children off at church at 4:00 and pick them up at 5:15. Childcare will be provided by Stacie Widder for the children when their choir is not rehearsing.

Children's choir registration materials will be sent with Sunday School information to each family in the next week. Please watch for it to arrive and return the completed forms to church by September 11th.

If you have any questions about these choirs please feel free to contact Mrs. Reed or Lois.

Again the fine volunteers at FCC have helped to make lives easier and better. Those folks who helped by delivering Meals on Wheels in August are:

Provena St. Joseph Hospital
Larry Rothlisberger,
Dorothy Cook, Jean Hempstead,
Bonnie Turk
Ellie and John Hopkins
Janet Aldred
Carl and Mary Ellen Flaks,
Geneva Moody
and Tom and Lori Powell.

Sherman Hospital
Kay Durham,
Chuck and Dolores Zimmerman

Many thanks to all who give so willingly of their time and effort.

Come and meet Laura Gifford, the founding mother of our church (as portrayed by Linda Rock) on September 15th at our fall celebration of women. Our evening will begin with a salad supper at 6:30 p.m. Bring a salad to share - any kind of salad - pasta salad, chicken salad, lettuce salad, taco salad, macaroni salad, or jello. We want all of the women of the church to come and join in a nice evening of fun and fellowship. Please come and bring a friend.

Once again it is time to get in on the fun of being part of a dinner group. We have had five very successful years of Dine with Nine (or Dinners for Eight). Each group consists of eight or nine adults. The group takes turns meeting for dinner in each other's homes. The hostess decides on the menu for the evening and lets the other guests know what to bring. Following dinner there is time for games, discussion, movies or whatever. A dining out group is also available for those who do not like to cook. If you'd like to be part of a dinner group fill out the insert in this issue of Church Life. This is a great way to get to know the people you worship with each Sunday. Please sign-up by September 18th so our new groups can be up and running by mid October.

Join us for a Sundae Celebration on September 11th as we kick-off our new programming year. The Ministry of Christian Education will be serving all the fixings for mighty fine sundaes. So, bring your appetites to coffee hour and come be creative.

Our salad luncheon in July was such a success that everyone said, "Do it again!" So, the youth are sponsoring another salad luncheon. This one will be held on Sunday, September 25th right after the 10:15 worship service. This is a fund-raiser to support youth programming at our church. The luncheon will feature a variety of salads and desserts. The cost is $5 per person. Please sign-up on the insert so that we know how many places to set at the tables.

ChristCare continues to grow and there is a lot of interest in what this new year will offer. There are several ChristCare groups continuing, while several others have taken a break. Watch for announcements about what's new, and what's coming, and how to meet with a ChristCare group with your interests. A review of what ChristCare groups are doing now and what is coming may help you to become as excited as the leaders already are. Take this short survey and see how many of the following you would say yes to. Do you enjoy movies? Do you read books? Are you interested in Bible study? Would you like to have some joy walking with others sharing your interests? Are you interested in what kinds of crafts can be made to share with others-knitting, making ornaments, making gifts? Are you interested in presenting skits and dramas from time to time? Would you like to learn more about how your spirit, health and wellness in general all interact with each other? Are you a writer who has sought feedback about your works and would you like to learn more about how to become an author or poet? Have you interesting family members whose oral histories would like to develop?

Are you interested in music, to sing with, to play, to offer as special music? Do you want to meet with and learn more about new members and what we love about our spiritual home? Watch for more about ChristCare and its circle of care with Christ in the center - the new season is coming!!

Have you used eye glasses that you are ready to donate to a good cause? There is a box in the foyer that is ready to receive them. There are several organizations which collect these and send them to where there are needs. And, the food pantry has informed us that they are in need of personal items; toothbrushes and tooth paste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, razors, and other items you can consider. Watch for more information about the coming contest for the Food Pantry donations, and in the meantime, let's recommit to keeping our donations to this church mission.

WRAP is starting up in just a couple of weeks.

"I'm not sure about this. I don't like telling everyone my problems."

WRAP focuses on Recovery. According to the Final Report of the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, Recovery refers to the process in which people are able to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. For some, recovery is the ability to live a fulfilling and productive life despite a disability. For others, recovery implies the reduction or complete remission of symptoms.

"But I don't have a mental illness."

The principles are applicable no matter what issues you are working on. Remember, why you come is your business. We want you to share things you are doing to help yourself recover. The formula for recovery includes hope, personal responsibility, support, education, self-advocacy, and spirituality.

"When did you say this was starting?"

When: Monday nights, September 12, 2005
-November 14, 2005

Where: First Congregational United Church of Christ
256 E. Chicago St.
Elgin, IL 60123

Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Need more information or to sign up call Pat Lindquist at The Mustard Seed.