First Congregational Church
United Church of Christ

WATCH THIS SPACE
Coming this fall will be a comprehensive pro-ram for deepening your walk with Christ.  Details are still being developed, but the three elements of the plan will be:
Christianity 101 – A survey of the basics of Christian faith for those who were never confirmed, or want a refresher course, or simply want to revisit these concepts from an adult perspective.  
Marks of Discipleship – Informational and experiential training in the practices of prayer, worship, Bible reading, service, relating to others, and giving.  
LifeKeys – A course designed to help you find meaning and purpose through discovering and affirming what you do best, the places or atmospheres that give you the most energy, and the purposes God has placed in your heart.  
More to Come!

RENOVATION REPORT
The Renovation Committee has met with the architect and construction manager and discussed how to proceed now that the Capital Campaign results are in. We are working with a budget of $1,475,000 ($250,000 we currently have, procuring a long-term loan of $500,000, and getting a bridge loan for the amount pledged in the campaign or $725,000). The next step will be to prioritize the work to be done. To that end, the construction manager, Shales McNutt Construction, and the architect, Chuck Cassell for BCA, will get current pricing for the work as well as breaking the entire project into individual pieces of work to be done, such as the elevator, accessible washrooms, exterior work, etc. At our next meeting we will be prioritizing the pieces to do as much as we can with the funds available. If you are interested you may join us on Monday June 30 at 7:00 pm in the Library.

SOMEONE NOTICED
Have you ever seen someone do a good job, or be helpful, or act in a particularly Christ-like way?  Have you ever thought “I should commend him/her for this,” but you just never got around to it?  Well, FCC is going to provide you with a quick and easy way to express your appreciation to the people who make a difference in the lives around them.  Pre-printed “Someone Noticed” postcards will be available around the church building.  All you have to do is write a sentence or two about the good deed you saw, address and stamp the other side, and drop it in the mail, or, if you like, hand deliver the card to the person.  Either way you will brighten someone’s day as well as lift your own spirit.  This is a tangible way for us to “encourage one another and build up each other” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  

Jim Ellsworth spent a few days in Sherman Hospital with respiratory problems.  He is home now.  

Ron Reuter was briefly hospitalized for high blood pressure.  He is home now and doing well.  

Sandy Magana had surgery to repair her rotator cuff.  She is home and recuperating well.  

Angie Rea was hospitalized at Sherman on June 4 with pneumonia.  She is now staying with her daughter, Camille Rea.

Geneva Moody had a fall which left her bruised and sore, but, thankfully, no bones were broken.  

Judy Steffen passed away on June 2.  A memorial service, led by Rev. Pat Lindquist, was held at FCC on June 14. 

Delbert Walter, step-father of John Kauffman, passed away on June 3.  

Linda Dahl is adjusting well to her new life, and would love to hear from her FCC family.  You can write to Linda at 1245 Cedar Lake Road, S., Minneapolis, Minnesota 55416.  

At the end of May Jon Warfel retired from teaching at Waubonsee College.  

Stevie Darlene Hyder was born on June 1st, 2008 to Keith & Stephanie (Essex) Hyder, and grandparents Doug & Ellen McDonald.

Ryan Troescher and Brittany Treacy, daughter of new member Debi Treacy were married at FCC on June 21.

As this issue of Church Life is going to press Trout Park is alive with children and adults “Surfin’ the Scriptures” at this year’s VBS Beach Party.  Each day begins with uplifting songs and a drama which sets the tone for the day.  Our stories this week will include:  Call of Gideon, David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth, The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, A Woman Healed, and Jesus and Thomas.  The children are having fun making a variety of crafts, playing games, discovering things during our science time, eating fun snacks, and worshiping God.  A BIG thank you to all who helped this week:  Director: Deb Sell;  Director of Christian Education, Jan Embree; Teachers:  Beth Mitchell, Evelyn Johnson, Carole Kilmanas; Games:  Lorri Carrara, Brian Stark; Discovery Time: Walt Kilmanas; Crafts: Deb Sell, Wendy Hargrave;  Music Leader: Mary Stark, Worship Leader:  Lois Bucher; Michael Blackwood Support Staff:  Shannon Lile, Deb Leberecht Snack Director:  Liz Sharf;  Helpers:  Nick Kemmler, Anna Mitchell, Daniel Argomaniz, Samantha Ackmann, Felicia McKay

VBS Children Support Heifer Project
The mission project for this year’s VBS is trees for Heifer Project.   One of Heifer International’s most important commitments is to care for the earth. That’s why in addition to livestock, Heifer often provides families with trees. On a steep Tanzanian hillside, Heifer International helped a family learn to plant trees and elephant grass to keep the soil in place. Today, they have flourishing rows of leucaena trees and corn. Through training, families learn how to keep their small plots of land healthy and renew the soil for future generations by planting trees, using natural fertilizer, and limiting grazing.  Each tree costs $60.

SWIMMING UNDER THE STARS
Join us for an August pool party at Wing Park Pool on Tuesday, August 12th 8pm – 10p.m.  This is an after hours event so we’ll be the only ones in the pool. Yea! The pool won’t be overcrowded and there won’t be long lines at the water slides.  If you pay in advance the cost is only $5 per person or $20 per family and $5 for guests.  So, come and bring your neighbors and friends for a fun evening of swimming under the stars.

There will be no Stepping Stones meetings in July or August.  We hope everyone uses the summer’s rays of sunshine to help themselves stay in good physical and mental health.  

Our programs for the fall will begin on Sunday, September 14, 2008.  At 9:15 a.m. Marie McKee and her pet therapy dog, will be presenting a program on Pet Therapy and mental health. Families are invited to attend this special fall kick-off session together.  Come and find out how a pet therapy dog is trained and how they can help a person with a mental illness.

Please save the date of Sunday, October 5, 2008 from 3:45-6:00 p.m. for a wonderful workshop entitled, “Embracing Forgiveness:  Letting go of your backpack of rocks and leaping into the arms of God.”  Our own Joan Schneider-Cooper, LCSW, RDDP will be presenting the workshop.  There will be a follow up discussion on Sunday, October 12, at the regular Stepping Stones meeting.

Is it hiding from you?  Is it under that pile on the kitchen counter?  Maybe it snuck its way to the back of the desk or even slipped quietly into a drawer.  Maybe it inadvertently made its way to the recycle bin.  Maybe you never got one.  Maybe you have been trying to avoid it.  Whatever the possibility, if you have not returned your Transforming The Church – Brick By Brick Building Fund appeal commitment card, we hope you will find it and return it to the church office.  If you need a new one, call the office and we’ll see that you get another.

Thank you to all who have prayerfully and carefully made commitments to Christ and our church and thank you to those of you who have not yet done so, but will.

Dear Friends,

I just want to thank all of the members of this wonderful church for their help and support in the Garage Sale.  It could not have happened without the great support and giving of our church.  A special thank you to Jeanne Rothlisberger, my rock, for her continued helpful advise, and the committee for Creative Fund Raising, also, Sandy Dalton for taking a big load off my shoulders by agreeing to be in charge of the sale site.  Tom Powell, also, gets special thanks for being there every day for 3 days and helping wherever he could.  Also, Paul Turk and Carl Flaks for using their large van and filling it to the top and taking most of the items to Good Will Store in So. Elgin, saving us many trips in our cars.  And for those stalwart people who were there every day, all day long, Jeanne Rothlisberger, Bonnie Turk, Carl and Mary Ellen Flaks, Carol Olson, and those who came after their day jobs, Kathy Jurgens, Gina Orazi, Jane Busby and all who came and supported us by buying things.  Of course the biggest THANK YOU goes to Cherie and Glenn Murphy who graciously let us use their home for our sale and to Wayne Boelter for bringing his trailer and helping us move all of the tables from the church to the sale site.  We couldn’t have done it without his help.

Thanks to all for your help and caring.  God bless our church.

Sincerely,
Evelyn Johnson

06     Bailey Stark
Matthew Halfpenny

13    Taylor Stark
    Emerson Lewis

20    Cassidy Sell
    Emilie Kottmeier

27    Grace Anne Aldred
    Abby Garcia
 
 

06    Mary Jane Busby
13    Carl & Mary Ellen Flaks
20    Delores Kagel
27    Stewart Crockett

06    Jennifer Phillips
13    Cathy Jurgens
20    Lorri Powell
27    Paul Grote

06 Jodie Stackowiak, Kirsten Pedersen, Laura McMinn, Cherie Murphy, Sandy Dalton
13 - Chase Sund, Anna Mitchell, Mary
Taylor, Grant Powell, Alessandra Castillo
20 - Walt & Carole Kilmanas, Jerry Powers,
Ron & Karen Carlson
27 - Jim Schock, Jim Breunlin, Chuck
Zimmerman, Mike Powers

06    Carl & Mary Ellen Flaks
13    Beth Mitchell
20    Evelyn Johnson
27    Katy Powers

02        Emilie Kottmeier
03        Mary Vickers
04        Mich Barbezat
14        Robert Bayler
16        Mark Preradovic
19        Michelle Ann Schumacher
19        Andrew (A.J.) Mitchell
20        Jami Sund
21        Derick Dahlstrom
22        Danielle Dahlstrom
22        Benjamin Grote
23        Samantha Sell
24        Shirley Hokanson
24        Leonel Solis
25        Patricia Scroggins
28        Ellen McDonald
31        Karie Jiacomin
31        Christie Bowers
31        Cameron Leberecht