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November 2018
“The Purest form of Thankfulness — Not taking life for granted”
The great theologian, Karl Barth, once said that the basic human response to
God is not fear and trembling, not guilt and dread, but thanksgiving. Gratitude is as
essential to the human spirit as food is to the body. Without it, the spirit is not
nourished; eventually it shrivels and dies. And praise, is it not the window through
which we see the loving, merciful, sovereign nature of God most clearly? When we
offer our thankful praise, we enter a world of hope, which in turn offers us a life-
saving counterpoint to the spirit-crushing world in which we currently live. When
we say our prayers and sing our songs, we enter the realm of religious imagination,
and get set straight again about who made the world and to whom we belong and
to whom we should thank: “Know that the Lord is God. It is God that made us; and we are God’s” (Psalm
100).
All that we have is a gift of God, the earth we walk, the air
that we breathe, the abilities we use, the people and places
that bless our journeys, the grace that greets us fresh every
morning, the everlasting love that supports us all day long, the
blessed peace that comes to us when we need it the most. This
church, of course, is a gift of God, as well – the generations of
generous people; the laughter and the tears, the fellowship
and the compassionate care; the sacred space of our sanctuary where countless babies have been
baptized - weddings celebrated - lives remembered in memorial services giving thanks to God for the gift
of the resurrection; the columbarium, the final resting place for the earthly remains of our loved ones;
the worship and beautiful anthems; being nourished at the Lord’s Table with the Bread of Life. For all
these things and the ministry of the church we give thanks to God.
I wonder if the purest form of thankfulness is simply not to take life for granted as we are living it.
Just paying attention in the moment may be the sincerest expression of devotion in response to God the
Giver. Perhaps, in fact, it is a prayer of gratitude more profound than any other to enter the sanctuary
savoring those moments outside of the church - sitting with an aging parent who may or may not
remember our visit; or spending time reading to or simply playing with a little one; or listening to the
problems facing a mature child without giving in to the temptation to offer advice and try to fix it; or
sharing a glass of wine with a spouse or partner or friend who has had a really, really bad day; or
(Continued on page 2)
Rev. Paul Gilmore
“What else can we say to what God gives us, but to stammer praise.” —Karl Barth
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All Saints Sunday – Candlelight
Processional to Columbarium On All Saints Sunday, November 4th, we remember
church members and friends who have died during
the last twelve months – their names will be
spoken during the worship service. At the close of
our worship service, there will be a candlelight
procession from the sanctuary to the columbarium
for a brief time of prayer and thanksgiving. We will
give thanks to God for those who have touched our
lives, lived the faith, and who have now joined the
great cloud of witnesses, the glorious company of
the saints in light. All are invited to be part of the
processional and time of prayer.
Bonus Hour November 4, 2018 “Trust Makes the World Go Round: The Crucial
Need for Social Cohesion” —The Rev. Dirk Ficca
The Rev. Dirk Ficca is serving as a senior advisor to
the Church of Sweden and its Archbishop, the Rev.
Antje Jackelen, for the ‘A World of Neighbors’
initiative addressing the refugee and migrant crisis
in Europe. He also serves as the Executive Director
of the Twin Cities Social Cohesion Initiative in
Minneapolis – St. Paul; and is a past Executive
Director of the Council for a Parliament of the
World’s Religions.
In a world of immigrants, migrants, and refugees,
how do we learn to live together in communities
that welcome and celebrate the gifts of all peoples.
Who are the people who are key in building
community in the midst of our differences, and
what is the role of the church of Jesus Christ?
Come and learn from one who is in the midst of
creating social cohesion in Europe and the United
States.
exercising one’s faith in the civic realm by
standing up for what is good and just and right.
Herein may lay the mystery of the Eucharistic
feast, reminding us that the very word Eucharist
is all about a kind of thanks we offer because we
have noticed God at work among us.
Barth also said that the source of all sin is
ingratitude. If so, we would do well to not allow
the things that daily clamor for our attention to
keep us from being thankful for the ordinary
occasions of tenderness that present themselves
each new day. There is a discipline to being
thankful. You have to pay attention. It takes time.
It means counting your blessings. Instead of
looking for somebody to blame for everything
that is wrong, look for someone to thank for that
which is good and right. It takes time to get clear
in our hearts and minds that all is a gift, even life
itself, and it is God to whom we owe the thanks.
And, of course, in this season of thanksgiving,
I hope that your gratitude will be expressed in
giving generously to the mission and ministry of
this church through our stewardship campaign for
the year 2019. I invite you to take your place in
the Generations of Generosity at the Winnetka
Presbyterian Church.
Grateful to God for all that you are and do,
Paul
(Continued from page 1)
“The Purest form of
Thankfulness — Not taking life
for granted”
WPC
Thanksgiving Interfaith Service Tuesday, November 20th at 7:30 pm.
Saints Faith Hope and Charity Church 180 Ridge Avenue Winnetka
3
Worship and Music
All Saints Sunday
Geoff Duffy
Director of Music, Associate Director of Worship
A few years
ago, I had the
opportunity to
travel to Rome
and walk in the
footsteps of Peter
and Paul. I saw
the crypt where
Peter’s remains
are said to be buried, and where the early Christians
built a small memorial to honor one of Jesus’ closest
friends. And I stayed in the old Jewish section of the
city, where Paul possibly shared the gospel with
small bands of believers. Rome is sometimes
referred to as the “City of Saints” because so many
Christian faithful have hallowed its streets over the
centuries.
This past month, I have been sorting through
boxes of stories and pictures of the saints of
Winnetka in order to create the timelines that are
hanging in the atrium. We tend to not think of
these Winnetka saints in the same way we think of
Peter and Paul, but perhaps we should. Just like the
apostle Paul, WPC’s first pastor, Lloyd Ogilvie, had a
vision to establish a community of Christians here
on the North Shore. During one of those first years,
he wrote, “The bonds of love have grown deep and
firm as we have lived and worked together as the
Church, the saints of God.”
In his letter to the Romans, Paul names some of
the saints who helped build and develop the church
in Rome...Urbanus, Andonicus, Mary, Aristbulus,
Persis, and Julia. Thanks to the 1957 Annual Report,
we also know the names of some of the saints who
helped build and develop the church in
Winnetka...John Porter, Marcellene Wilson, Henry
Whiteside, Eleanor Roy, and Romney Watkins.
On the first Sunday of November each year we
celebrate All Saints Day, a day set aside to call to
mind all the faithful people who have gone before
us into eternal life. The Book of Common Worship
says, “In the Reformed tradition, the emphasis on
this festival is on the ongoing sanctification of the
whole people of God. While we may give thanks for
the lives of particular luminaries of ages past, we
also give glory to God for the ordinary, holy lives of
believers in this and every age.”
As I’ve been walking around the church building
these past couple weeks, I have been thinking a lot
about all the saints who have walked through these
halls before we ever arrived. And I’ve given thanks
to God for the faithful lives they led, and the gift of
this sacred space they left for future generations.
One of my favorite All Saints hymns that we sing
around WPC, In Our Day of Thanksgiving, includes
this verse: These stones that have echoed their
praises are holy / and dear is the ground where their
feet have once trod; / yet here they confessed they
were strangers and pilgrims, / and still they were
seeking the city of God.
During this season of stewardship and saints,
remember to give thanks to God for the “ordinary,
holy lives” that have brought us to this moment. Be
grateful for the generations of generous saints who
built such a strong foundation for us!
Allegria!
Annual Christmas Concert Sunday, December 9 @ 5pm
Mark your calendars! This year’s concert will feature
Christmas music from Mexico and Latin America, as
we tell the Christmas story through the eyes of a
refugee family from Bethlehem.
Saints of Winnetka, circa. 1957
4
February Worship & Music
Children’s Ministry
Cents-Ability Offering
The Cents-Ability hunger
program began on Sunday,
October 7 and the children
were excited to be involved!
After Pastor Paul’s "Moment
with the Young" he asked the
children to collect the Cents-
Ability cups from our
congregation. They
enthusiastically collected the coins and placed them
in a container at the front of the sanctuary then
promptly returned the containers to our
congregation for next months collection. It’s nice to
see our children involved in this Presbyterian Hunger
Program!...Thank you WPC! We raised $266.37!
Sacrament Class
On Saturday, October 6, Pastor Paul and Nancy enjoyed spending the morning with eight third and fourth
grade children and their parents in our WPC sacrament class. We began our time together sharing baptism pic-
tures and stories. We moved to the sanctuary where Pastor Paul taught them about the sacraments of baptism
and communion that we celebrate. We then spent time with the children in several hands on actives that will
help them remember this special day. The time together concluded with a luncheon and much excitement
about the activities of the day.
Children’s Mission
This month, children in Sunday school will be
working on signs, cards, and placemats to make
our Family Promise guests feel welcome when
they arrive the first week of December.
Teachers and Guides Needed
We are in need of teachers and guides for our
kindergarten - 2nd grade, 3rd - 4th grade and 5th
- 6th grade classes. If you are interested please
see the sign up in the atrium and come and get to
know our children of WPC!
5
Youth Ministry
Spaghetti Dinner
Our annual Spaghetti dinner is just around the
corner! Please join us on Sunday, November 4 from
5:30 - 7:00pm for a great evening of food and
fellowship. Let our junior and senior high serve up a
fantastic spaghetti dinner for you and your family.
(Gluten free options will be available) Tickets are
$10 for adults, $5 for children and $30 (max) for
families. This is a fundraising event for our junior
and senior high youth. Proceeds will support youth
mission and faith formation. If any youth have not
yet signed up for a shift and plan on being here,
please let Nancy Holly know: [email protected]
Confirmation
We have twelve 7th and
8th graders who began
their confirmation
journey led by Pastor
Paul on Sunday, October
21. Classes will run from October through May, with
confirmation on Sunday, June 9. Along with their
study, these youth will be encouraged to participate
in worship on First Sunday’s as ushers, lectors or
prayer leaders. They will also experience visits to 3
or 4 houses of worship and be asked to take part in
service opportunities and fundraising for their youth
group. On one Sunday a month the confirmation
class will enjoy dinner with our senior high youth
group (FISH).
FISH (Senior High Youth Group)
Our senior high youth group which includes all
youth in 9th through 12th grade, will meet twice a
month; one Sunday hosted by a youth family and
the second at WPC. Our meetings are from 6:00 -
7:30pm and will include a meal together, study, fun
and fellowship! Our first meeting included sharing
pizza with the confirmation class.
First Sundays
All youth are encouraged to participate
in communion Sundays “First
Sunday’s” at WPC. Please let Nancy
Holly know if your son or daughter
would like to be a lector, usher or lead
prayers. We would love to have them!
Youth Group
Event Calendar 2018-2019
Here are some of the special events planned
for our youth this year:
November 4 Spaghetti Dinner
December 8 Good News Partners
Christmas Market
January 11 Make your own pizza
and game night at WPC
February 2 Feed My Starving Children
March 10 The Boulevard
(formerly Interfaith House)
April 7 Pancake Breakfast
6
Join Us!
Men of the Church Monthly
Lunch 1st Monday of the month @ 12:00pm, Wilmette
Golf Club, 3900 Fairway Dr, Wilmette.
Tuesdays Men's Bible Study
Tuesdays @ 6:30-7:30am, with
Rev. Dan McNerney.
Seniors’ Club
2nd Tuesday of the month @ 11am.
Bring a sandwich cut in two pieces to share, and if
you celebrate a birthday this month, we hope you'll
share a bit about your life story with the group. No
RSVP necessary, just come! Questions? Please call
Kathy Fink, Elder for Spiritual Formation,
847.693.1699.
Wednesday Bible Study
Wednesdays @ 11am. All are welcome. We study
the scripture lesson for the upcoming Sunday
worship service. If you would like to receive the
Bible study notes, please contact Dina Price at
Yoga Sanctuary
Candlelight Yoga Sanctuary on Wednesdays @ 7pm,
and Morning Yoga on Saturdays at 9am. Please bring
your own mat. All levels welcome!
LifeTalk
Thursdays at 9:30am at Café Aroma. Talk and
friendship over coffee, tea, and hot cocoa. A great
way to start your day. Come as often as you can.
Contact Donna Powell, 847.446.6536.
Saturday Morning
Men’s Small Group & Bible Study
Saturdays @ 8am. All are welcome
“Growing Faithfully Together” Saturdays, 10:30-Noon, WPC. Bring your coffee and
join us for a new women’s group seeking faithful
companionship in our spiritual journeys.
Volunteer Today!!
A Just Harvest
Community Kitchen Every 3rd Monday of the month WPC cooks,
delivers and serves a meal to A Just Harvest Soup
Kitchen in East Rogers Park. Click here to sign-up.
You will receive an email a few days before the
3rd Monday of the month reminding you of the
job you offered to complete. If you have any
questions, email Kathy Fink,
[email protected], 847-441-6724.
Download the recipe here.
Coffee Hour Faithful volunteer hosts share the treats we all enjoy after the Sunday service. To sign up and for guidance on what to bring, please sign-up here. Questions? Contact Debbie Sanders
Ushers Needed
Our ushers play a vital role during worship
without a large time commitment. We ask that
you come 15 minutes early, hand-out the
bulletins, offering plates, and help newcomers
feel welcome, once every six weeks. Everyone is
welcome to volunteer. You can reach the office
at 847-446-7777 or [email protected].
7
Stewardship Campaign & Auction
"Generations of Generosity"
Stewardship Season You should have received your stewardship brochure and pledge card. Please
bring in your pledge card by November 18th, Commitment Sunday. Or you
can pledge online right now by clicking here!
Celebrating Commitment Sunday!
Luncheon, Raffle, Live, and Silent Auction!
On Commitment Sunday, November 18th after worship, please join us for a
festive time of fellowship and fundraising!
• Purchase your raffle tickets on Sundays beginning on November 4th. The
prizes for the Raffle include an Apple Watch Series 4, Apple IPad, and a
pair of Apple Airpods; Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20.
• Bidding on our silent auction begins at 8:00 am. Enjoy coffee and muffins
while you bid.
• Enjoy a delicious luncheon with baked ham, barbecued chicken,
casseroles provided by our Fellowship Committee, and a salad or dessert
provided by our congregation.
• Live auction with Ron Bernardi of Sunset Foods who will auction off
fabulous prizes. Some auction items include: Fly with Karl; Scottsdale
Princess & United Airlines miles package; VIP WPC Parking Spot; Bears
Tickets; Instant Wine Cellar; Deer Valley, Utah - Winter + Summer Stay.
• Silent auction items: Golf Outings; Yoga Package; Gift Baskets for adults
and children; Sailing Outings; Symphony Tickets; Hotel Packages; and
much, much more!!
If you have questions, please contact Lynne Frid, [email protected] or Kathy Fink, [email protected], for more information.
Sunday Morning
Stewardship Moment Speakers
October 28 - Abby Thomsen
November 4 - Barbara Scott
November 11 - Gingi Trux
Commitment Sunday—November 18 - Erik Scheier
Luncheon and Silent Auction following worship!
8
WPC Staff Directory
Rev. Paul Gilmore Pastor
20 Geoff Duffy Director of Music, Associate Director of Worship
24 Dina Price
Administrator
22
Nancy Holly Director of Children’s Ministry & Youth Coordinator
21 Kathy Fink Clerk of Session
847.441-6724
Greg Hartfield Custodian
Rev. Kathy Dale McNair Specialized Minister
Mental Health Ministry
Michael Jin Financial Secretary
26
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 9:30am LifeTalk 7:15pm Choir Rehearsal
2 7:30pm AA Meeting
3
8:00am Men’s Group 9:00am Yoga Sanctuary 4:00pm Women’s Retreat
4 Communion 8:45 Choir 9:45am Worship & Sunday School 11:15 Bonus Hour 5:30pm Spaghetti Dinner
5 12:00pm Men at Church Lunch
6 6:30am Men’s Bible Study 7:00am WPC polling place 10:00am Staff Meeting 7:30pm AA Meeting
7
11:00am Pastor’s Bible Study 7:00pm Candlelight Yoga
8
9:30am LifeTalk 7:15pm Choir Rehearsal
9
7:30pm AA Meeting
10
8:00am Men’s Group 9:00am Yoga Sanctuary 10:30am GIFT
11 8:45 Choir 9:45am Worship & Sunday School
12
13 6:30am Men’s Bible Study 10:00am Staff Meeting 11:30am Senior Club 7:00pm Stephen Ministry 7:30pm AA Meeting
14
11:00am Pastor’s Bible Study 7:00pm Candlelight Yoga 7:00pm Deacon Meeting
15
9:30am LifeTalk 7:15pm Choir Rehearsal
16 7:30pm AA Meeting
17 8:00am Men’s Group 9:00am Yoga Sanctuary 10:30am GIFT
18
8:45 Choir 9:45am Worship & Sunday School 5:00pm Youth Group 6:00 pm Fish 6:00pm PTI
19 4:30pm A Just Harvest Soup Kitchen
20 6:30am Men’s Bible Study 10:00am Staff Meeting 7:00pm Mission Team 7:30pm AA Meeting
21 11:00am Pastor’s Bible Study 7:00pm Candlelight Yoga
22 Office Closed
23 Office Closed
24 8:00am Men’s Group 9:00am Yoga Sanctuary 10:30am GIFT
25
8:45 Choir 9:45am Worship & Sunday School
26 27 6:30am Men’s Bible Study 10:00am Staff Meeting 7:00pm Stephen Ministry 7:30pm AA Meeting
28 11:00am Pastor’s Bible Study 7:00pm Candlelight Yoga 7:00pm Session Mtg
29 9:30am LifeTalk 7:15pm Choir Rehearsal
30 7:30pm AA Meeting
November 2018
1255 Willow Road, Winnetka, IL 60093 847.446.7777 main 847.446.7790 fax
www.winnpres.org facebook.com/WinnetkaPres
