First Congregational Church
United Church of Christ

Response to our adult education offerings has been great, and participants continue to be enthusiastic about the classes and the fellowship - not to mention the yummy breakfast each week!  Bring your family at 9:00 am for a nice assortment of juice, fruit, milk, cereals, pastries, and coffee, and then stay for a time of spiritual and personal growth as we study together.  Child care is available after your children have eaten breakfast.

We are delving deep into the mysteries of the fourth Gospel with The Long-Winded Savior: Studies in the Gospel of John.  The class is discovering the masterful way the book is written and exploring the theological implications of its teachings for our lives.  Don't worry if you haven't been in the class before.  We're all learning.

Help!  I Need Somebody!  On January 14th the group will discuss myths surrounding depression.  Come share your experiences and learn from others.  For more information, see Tracy Grote's article on page 3.

Because final authority for decision-making lies with you - the congregation of FCC - our church gathers once a year for our Annual Meeting.  The meeting will be held this year on January 28.  As has been our practice in the past, the meeting will be held immediately after the 10:15 worship service.  Both the service and the annual meeting will take place in Fellowship Hall.  (The 8:15 service will be in the chapel as usual.)  At the meeting you will be asked to approve nominations for officers, ministries, and committees.  The 2007 budget will be presented for your approval.  The Mission Grants Committee will present for approval their nominations for mission support at home and around the world.  And all of this will take place around the tables with your family and friends and a delicious brunch provided by the Church Council.  Please plan to attend.  This is the business of your church.

Here are your remaining opportunities for questions, comments, and prayerful reflection with your FCC family on the proposed renovation project:

Question and Answer Sessions
December 17
January 7
January 14

Someone from the Long Range Planning Committee is available in the vestibule after the 8:15 service, and in the fellowship hall after the 10:15 service, to answer questions and hear your joys and/or concerns.

Prayer Services
December 20
January 3
January 10
January 17

Prayer services are held at 7:00 in the chapel.  Come join your FCC family for times of listening for God in scripture, silence, and one another.  In addition, the chapel is available each Sunday from 9:15 until 10:00 for individual prayer.

Congregational Meeting January 21
A congregational vote will be taken after the 10:15 worship service

"I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you" (Ephesians 1:17-18)

Due to an overwhelming response to the Mental Health Ministry, we will meet on the 2nd Sunday of the month in the library from 9:15 - 10:00 am.

The focus will be on recovery from mental illness & education topics:

Jan 14th - Myths Surrounding Depression

As I prepared to write this article, I thought it best to research the more common myths related to depression.  Feeling sure I knew what they would be, I searched the internet for "myths about depression."  Much to my dismay, I was instead attempting to sort through a barrage of information.  I quickly found a pattern..for every myth which one doctor, professor, or therapist refuted, another confirmed, one contradiction after another.  Did I feel ready to tackle the "myths" subject?  Did I feel empowered with a wealth of knowledge?  Quite the contrary!  I, a person with what I thought was a strong understanding of depression (having been treated for years), found myself feeling befuddled, frustrated, and offended.  These articles and opinions cast doubt on all I thought I had come to know.  It was abundantly clear why so often people don't understand or know what to believe about depression.

Then I had a thought.  What if I choose to believe my own experiences..what I know to be true?  And what if I share these hard-learned facts with other people?  And what if they then share with me what they know to be true?  By doing so, is it possible that we might dispel a few of these myths, all by the one courageous act of speaking our own truths?

Here, in my personal opinion and from my own experiences, are just a few of the facts.  Depression is an illness and cannot be ignored.  It is not something you can will yourself out of.  It can strike at any age.  It affects both men and women.  Depression will manifest differently in every person.  It is absolutely treatable.  There is no ONE method of treatment.  Happiness can be found once depression is managed.  Depression is nothing to be ashamed of.

I will always share what I know to be true about depression in the hopes that someone will hear me.  Will you join me?

I hope to see you at our next meeting.maybe you could shed some light on this darkness..these "myths about depression."

Tracy Grote

WRAP is a self-management and recovery system developed by a group of people who had mental health difficulties and who were struggling to incorporate wellness tools and strategies into their lives.  WRAP is designed to:

• Decrease and prevent intrusive or troubling feelings and behaviors
• Increase personal empowerment
• Improve quality of life
• Assist people in achieving their own life goals and dreams.
  

WRAP is a structured system to monitor uncomfortable and distressing symptoms that can help you reduce, modify or eliminate those symptoms by using planned responses. This includes plans for how you want others to respond when symptoms have made it impossible for you to continue to make decisions, take care of yourself or keep yourself safe.
People who are using WRAP say:

• "It helps me feel prepared."
• "I feel better more often and I'm able to improve the overall quality of my life."
  

The person who experiences symptoms is the one who develops their personal WRAP. The person may choose to have supporters and health care professionals help them create their WRAP.

The WRAP system was developed by people who have been dealing with a variety of psychiatric symptoms for many years and who are working hard to feel better and get on with their lives. Mary Ellen Copeland has shared it with people with other illnesses and they too believe that it can be easily adapted for use with other conditions.

This information is provided from maryellencopeland.com.

Please call Pat Lindquist if you plan to attend or if you have questions.

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your participation in this year's Trick or Treat for PADS fund raiser! All of your hard work and generosity made this effort a true success.

As you know, it takes a lot of supplies to operate the shelter and provide for nearly 9,000 annual nights of stay. PADS has always depended on the support of concerned members of the community. By collecting and donating supplies and warm clothing items, your congregation has shown their concern and taken action to help our community's most needy individuals.

As PADS begins to embark on an important journey in our organization, we are encouraged by all of the support that we have received. Once again you have proven that through faith there is hope - hope in the power of God working through the hearts of people. We know that with your continued support we can go forward, spreading our mission of serving the Elgin area's homeless men, women and families.

Sincerely,
Dennis Hewitt
Executive Director

December 7, 2006

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the staff and board of directors of PADS of Elgin, Inc., thank you for your continued, generous support of this organization

Your donation of $433.00 is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Dennis Hewitt
Executive Director

• Margaret Schmoldt had surgery to remove her gall bladder on December 8 at St. Joseph Hospital. She is recuperating well.
• Betty Ells is continuing chemotherapy treatments at Edward Hospital.
• Jackie Sanderson had knee replacement surgery at Central Dupage Hospital on December 5. She is recuperating well.
• Violet Lohse spent a few days at the hospital recently and is now receiving rehab treatments at Manor Care.
• Amanda Reuter had an MRI to discover the cause of severe headaches.
• Emerson Lewis had a tonsillectomy on December 12. She is recuperating well.
• Lori Kemmler's father was recently hospitalized for an infection and heart problems.
• Steve Stauffacher's mother, Delores, fell and fractured her eye socket. Thankfully, surgery does not appear to be necessary at this time.

• Olaf Iverson, father of Jeff Iverson, passed away on December 6.
• Marvin Watermann, Mary Hewitt's father, passed away on December 8.
• Orpha Westwood, mother of Diana Menke, died on October 31.

Jacob Brictson, son of Mark and JoAnne Brictson, arrived home on leave from Iraq on December 8.

1-01    Geneva Moody
1-02    Ron Schaaf
1-02    Walter Kilmanas
1-03    Angie Rea
1-08    Paul Rothlisberger
1-10    Kaylen Bye
1-11    Abby Kottmeier
1-12    Leola Ellsworth
1-13    Nicole Steffen
1-16    Bill Sell
1-17    Violet Lohse
1-17    Lavon Bayler
1-17    Mike McMinn
1-17    Laura McMinn
1-21    Paul Mason
1-22    Martina Preradovic
1-24    Camille Rea
1-25    John Hopkins
1-25    Mary Barbezat
1-28    Lindsay Iverson
1-29    Dorothy Gerber

We are encouraging the children to be present each week in Sunday School. Their regular attendance makes it easier for them to learn about our faith without gaps in their learning. We want to recognize these people for perfect attendance during the month of November: Madisen Erickson, Ashlyn Erickson, Bailey Stark, Taylor Stark and David Gerber.

Congratulations! We hope that more children will try to be present each week. We will be recognizing perfect attendance for December in the next newsletter.

Just a reminder that FROG Friday will NOT be meeting during the month of December.  We will resume our FROG (Friends Relying on God) Friday program on the third Friday in January which is January 19th 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.  The payment of $15.00 for the winter session (Jan., Feb., Mar.) will be due at that time.   The cost is $15.00 per person for three sessions.  This cost includes dinner, craft, story and games.  FROGS are having a "hopping" good time learning more about being faithful friends relying on God.  Plan to come and invite someone new to join us too.

We will be participating in a 30 hour Famine on Friday February 16th - Saturday, February 17th. Watch for more details, but save the date and plan to join us for this "hunger" event.

Sister to Sister will be meeting on Thursday, January 12^th at 7p.m. in the library.  Please plan to join us as we talk about highlights from our holidays and the new year.  Bring something interesting to share with the group. This group is very informal.  All of the women of the church are invited to participate.

Dear Church Family and Friends,

We wish all of you to know our gratitude and appreciation for your prayers, visits, cards and flowers, with my rocky road to recovery. I don't know what we would have done without all your support.

With belief all things are possible, at least day by day.

Sincerely with love,
Betty & Dale Ells

The Cross I'd Players ChristCare Group continues to build community, conduct prayer and worship, review Bible passages, and seek mission opportunities. During late October we collaborated with the Crafty Christians for an all church dinner and entertainment evening to help defeat the deficit!! We enjoyed the jokes, the skits, the songs in the sing alongs (do you remember the Banana Boat Song?). With the sale of Crafty Christians' articles, we contributed several hundred dollars to the deficit reduction campaign. We all had fun, and we are ready to have more people come and join us. We meet Saturday mornings at 9:00 am.

We prepare for skits to emphasize different mission collections and roles in the church. As you see us, we are having a good time, we are a circle of care with Christ at the center, and we have the mission of helping others. Join us as you can - we are ready!

Many thanks to Carl and Mary Ellen Flaks, John and Ellie Hopkins, Tom Powell, Bonnie Turk, Dorothy Cook, Lavon Bayler, Chuck and Dolores Zimmerman for delivering meals from Provena St. Joseph Hospital.

Also, thank you to Larry Rothlisberger, Bonnie Turk, Michael Blackwood, Janet Banwart, Sheila Salamon, Chuck and Dolores Zimmerman for delivering meals from Sherman Hospital in November.

Our next turn will be the weeks of February 5 and 12, 2007. Please call Dolores Zimmerman if you would like to help.