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ECHOAPRIL 2017The Congregational Church of Jefferson ParkUnited Church of Christ5320 W Giddings StChicago, IL 60630773-725-0121www.congregationalchurchofjeffersonpark.org

From the Pastor—Gayle Tucker

“The act of worship makes us ‘church.’”“‘Liturgy’ means ‘the work of the people.’ Liturgy may have words written by one and may be led by a few, but it really exists only when it is enacted with the participation of all. So when we call our worship a liturgy, we are saying that worship involves the active participation of all the people.”“For those who plan worship, the task is a sacred trust.”-The Work of the People: What We Do in Worship and Why,Marlea Gilbert, Christopher Grundy, Eric T. Myers, and Stephanie Perdew (Alban Institute, 2007)

Worship is the heart of the congregation - the one regular occasion that brings us together – and it is important that we all do our best to make worship the best we can. While it is easy to assume that this is solely the task of the pastor and the music director, worship requires ALL the people to come to life. That being said, it is fair to assume that the pastor (and maybe even the music director) have goals – an agenda – in planning for our worship as a gathered community. You may think you know what that agenda is, and some have tried to guess. My agenda is this: to help all of us be better Christians. Yup – that’s my big agenda. This is why, when I sit down to plan worship each week, I am accompanied by the presence of each regular worship attendee, occasional attendee, and potential visitors or first-time attendees. It may look like I’m alone in the office, but I never really am. I also “confer” with my own former pastors and congregations, mentors, and seminary professors, whose words and actions continue

to influence me as I do my best to serve as your Pastor and Teacher, as I am called to be through my ordination.This is why I build each service on the foundation of scripture, chosen from the Revised Common Lectionary each week. The Word of God is where I start, and where I constantly circle back to, as I adapt prayers and choose hymns. It is also my frame of reference as I consider what is going on in our congregation, neighborhood, city, country, and the world. What can I draw on or bring together to help form our feeling and thinking about what God is calling us to be and do in the world? What needs to be said in order to remind us what Jesus was about? What might Jesus have to say in light of current discussions taking place? What can we say and sing to strengthen our relationship with the Divine, so that when we leave the church building we are more ready to be the Body of Christ in the world?The former public school teacher in me still sets objectives for worship each week, as we learn to be God’s people together. To that end, you will find a Worship Survey in this month’s ECHO, and it has been distributed on a handful of Sundays as part of the bulletin inserts. EVERYONE who has been to worship in the last year or so should complete and return one of these surveys, in order to give a relatively accurate representation of the worshiping population (a “representative sample,” in statistics-speak). Even if you think your answers could be summed up with “It’s all good!” – please complete a survey and return it to the church, via mail, email, or even deliver it by hand! I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it again: I’m not a mind-reader, so thoughtful feedback is most helpful in making worship the best it can be for as many of us as possible. Feedback, particularly that which is more complete than a thumbs up or thumbs down, helps me to tweak my objectives and answer the questions I try to answer in designing our liturgy each week. Help me make our worship together even better!

Gayle

Membership Exploration Class, for those considering joining the congregation, as well as anyone who is already a member or friend and would like to set aside some time and space to consider what their church involvement means to them.  Consider joining us to learn about and discuss the history of Christianity, our denomination, our

congregation, and the different ways each of us embraces and expresses our faith.  The class will meet on Saturday mornings at 10:00AM, through April 8th.

If you’re not interested in that class or it doesn’t fit your schedule, feel free to join me for Open Sanctuary: Lenten Reflection & Recreation.  All are invited to join me in our sanctuary for prayer, reflection, meditative coloring, walking meditation, or just plain walking.  It will be open to the public Mondays from Noon-1PM, and Wednesdays from 5:30PM-7:30PM, through April 12th. 

Holy Week and EasterSunday, April 9:11AM Palm Sunday Service, beginning with Procession of PalmsThursday, April 13:11:30AM Guild Agape Service in the Chapel & Potluck Lunch6:30PM Soup Supper7:30PM Maundy Thursday Service in Mayflower HallSunday, April 16:8:00AM Early “Sunrise” Service- “Messy Church”-style! Storytelling, music, and hands-on activities relating to Easter celebrations around the world;9:00AM Breakfast hosted by Choir;10AM Easter Egg Hunt;11AM Inter-generational Festival WorshipCongregational Church of Jefferson Park2017 WORSHIP SURVEYWhat is the most meaningful part of worship for you? Check all that apply.

__Prelude (piano) __Welcome __Choral Introit __Call to Worship__Opening Hymn __Unison Prayer of Invocation __Prayer of Confession__Congregational Response (sung) __Anthems (choir) __Children’s Focus__Scripture Readings __Message (Sermon) __Sharing Joys & Concerns__Silent Prayer __Morning (Pastoral) Prayer __Prayer of Our Savior__Offertory Invitation __Offertory Songs (sung by congregation)

__Offertory (piano) __Unison Prayer of Dedication__Communion Hymn __Communion__Announcements __Closing Hymn__Benediction __Postlude

Why do you come to worship?

What keeps you from coming to worship?

What is the one thing we could change that would increase your attendance?

What question would you like to see us ask on this survey that we didn’t ask?

EASTER FLOWERSIf you would like to order flowers for Easter, please contact Cathy Calato (chikiecat@yahoo.com) or call the church office 773-725-0121. More details will be in the Tidings on Sunday.

BOARD OF TRUSTEESThe trustees are currently waiting for resolutions from the insurance company, regarding the February break-in.  A security system is now being installed and a replacement PA equipment has been ordered.

WAYS & MEANSAs of today, March 31st, the Spaghetti Dinner and Dime Social is only 22 days away and so far, we have only 60 reservations.  The event may not seem close to you, but to those buying the food, arranging the seating, & stamping thousands of tickets, April 22 is very close indeed. PLEASE get your dinner reservations into Sharon Jaffray now. (skjaffray@aol.com) If you wait until the last minute you may be disappointed.  With a range of 200 people from our lowest attendance to our highest attendance, we have no way of guessing how many to plan for.  Our profits depend on smart shopping, and we can’t do that unless we have a better count. If you would like to request a special number for your Raffle Tickets, or want a large amount of the same special number, please let Don

Mendro or Janis Gooday know ASAP! (Don-cruisebuff@aol.com)  (Janis- atlasjan@sbcglobal.net). Gift certificates and prizes are needed for the Raffle. They can be brought to church now that the rummage sale is over.  Please give them to Janis Gooday, Janet Rathke, Sharon Jaffray or mark them for Spaghetti Dinner and leave them at church.  If transporting donations to church is a problem, we would be willing to pick them up.  Just call the church office.  (773-725-0121).  If you live a long distance from church, and need to bring them with you on the day of the dinner, please let Janis Gooday know ahead of time so she can plan accordingly and have a space and container ready. (atlasjan@sbcglobal.net or leave a message for her at the church office ) As always, we are looking forward to a fun evening, and seeing you there.

Spoiler Alert:I am sorry to report the Ice Cube Fairy does not exist.  Much to the surprise to many, the back freezer does not have an ice maker, and the empty ice cube trays do not refill by themselves.  Every week we find too many empty trays.  If you empty them, or find them low, PLEASE refill them. --Art Rathke

APRIL BIRTHDAYS 1 Cheryl Lawrence, 1 Jack Schmidt, 3 Lucie Davidson, 4 Emil Saleh, 6 Janet Rathke, 11 Willie Lawrence, 15 Chuck Link, 16 Samantha Mendro, 25 Otto Moll, 30 Bobbie Cook, 30 Cathy Calato.

PRAYER LIST Jack Schmidt, Pat Blagg, John Hill, Anita Ilika, Jennifer Schultz, Jenn Kovacs, Mary Benegas.

WOMEN'S & MEN'S GUILDThe Guild celebrates love and fellowship at the Agape Worship Service led by Pastor Gayle in the Chapel on Thursday, April 13, 2017 at 11:30 am. A Guild meeting and Potluck Lunch will follow. Please come & bring a friend! The results are in! To date, the Rummage & Bake Sale total is $3,023.63. It was a lot of work, but it was a success not only in the total money raised, but it was also as an opportunity to meet with our neighbors & reach out to the community. A million thanks to everyone who helped out in any way. Everyone's efforts made it happen! Thank you! -Joanie Moody, Wini Hansen, Joanne Modica. Rummage Sale Kwik Kafé:I would like to thank the special people that spent many hours baking and working in the Café and Bake Sale.  

Thanks to Mary Benegas, Cathy Buck, Sandy Damlos, Ken Doody, Bill Hansen, Don Mendro, Joanne Modica, Janet Rathke, and Koh Ringler and Boy Scout Troop 979.  We made over $500.00 and we couldn’t have done it without you.  What a great team.  -Art Rathke

ATTENDANCE                                                ADULTS        CHILDRENJanuary 29, 2017                                             38                   0               February 5, 2017                                             35                   6      February 12, 2017 Boy Scout Sunday        73 Adults & Children February 19, 2017                                           31                   7        February 26, 2017                                          37                   0           March 1, 2017 Ash Wednesday                      18                   0             March 5, 2017                                                45                   4             March 12, 2017 Girl Scout Sunday                34                   0            March 19, 2017                                              29                   10                March 26, 2017                                             36                    0

PASTORAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE UPDATEWe are a committee made up of the Pastor, Moderator, Associate Moderator and three members of the congregation selected by the three listed before. The current members are Pastor Gayle Tucker, Doug Roberts, Don Mendro, Janis Gooday, Rick Hill, and Carri Taraszka. We are here to help facilitate better relations between the pastor and the congregation. Our committee meets quarterly and on an as-needed basis. Although we may wish to meet to address concerns as soon as they arise, we try our best to schedule meetings in a timely manner to give all concerns the consideration they deserve. Although we wish to promote talking directly with Pastor Gayle, if you feel you cannot, please seek one of those listed above to talk to.

PUT IT IN YOUR CALENDAR!!Our Semi-Annual, Black Tie Hot Dog Dinner and KARAOKE! Saturday, May 20th, 2017 !! 4PM It's fun for the whole family and all your friends, and a great fund-raiser for the church!!  Details to follow, but this notice will give you time to practice that new song you always wanted to sing!! (If you need the music for it, let Don or Steve Mendro know!!)

GIRL SCOUTSPlease join Troop 41640 in Mayflower Hall on Sunday, April 30, 2017 at 2 pm for an AFTERNOON TEA and VISIT FROM JULIETTE GORDON LOW from the year 1920. We will imagine a time on Lookout Mountain in Georgia at Camp Juliette Low where she will guide us through the woods on nature walks, cook our meals over a campfire and sleep under the stars. Adapted and performed by Betsey Means, Artistic Director of WomanLore. The show is approximately 50 minutes followed by a Q&A. Ticket price is $12. Please contact Carrie Lawlor for reservations at carrieannlawlor@comcast.net or call 312-282-2058.

OAYA (OLDER AND YOUNGER ADULT GROUP)In March, the OAYA group went to see the movie “ The Shack “, the story of a man rocked by family tragedy & disillusioned with God. At the next meeting – (sometime in May? Watch the Tidings for details)- they will discuss the movie. It is also a book. If you have a chance, catch the movie while it is still in theaters or read the book & join OAYA in the discussion. Following “The Shack”, the next meeting discussion covers the novel “Playing with Fire” by Tess Gerittsen.

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Congregational Church of Jefferson Park · 5320 W Giddings St · Chicago, IL 60630 · USA