T O K N O W C H R I S T A N D M A K E H I M K N O W N

October 2011

Standing in the middle of the parking lot, my eyes scan from side to side. I see two big tents, one on each side, all filled with people; one tent with family and friends eating, talking, and sharing, and the other tent with folks writing letters to Congress, urging support for the underserved. I see tables with pictures of mission trips, youth events, and community interests and concerns. As I continue to look around, I can see laughing children, jumping up and down in the inflatables; I see games being played, smiles on people’s faces; I

see people eating snow cones and cookies, drinking coffee and soda. All set a picture in my mind of the life of our church. The Fall Festival was a great success and a grand celebration with our church family and our community! Thank you, thank

you, thank you. Thank you for a wonderful gathering of old and young alike. Thank you for demonstrating what a hardy group of people we are. The rain did not keep us away from enjoying the fruits of our labor, our call to be one with Christ and one with each other. Thank you, First Pres!

Fall Festival 2011: A Celebration of Community by Rev. Barbara Gorsky

“It was fantastic! The inflatable slide was fun and wet!”

— Audrey Agami (3rd grade)

“The Fall Festival is such a fun way to reconnect with church friends. I hope we can continue with this tradition for years to come!” — Lynese Pearson

“I loved the cherry snow cones!” — Alex Schuffler (5th grade)

“I had fun on the bouncy slide in

the rain. We went really fast!” — Sam Schuffler (3rd grade)

“The greatest thing about this event is the opportunity to meet other church members.”

— Ingrid Kaufman

October 2 World Communion Sunday 8:30 am and 10:00 am Philippians 3:4b-14 preaching: David Horne “Table Call” October 9 8:30 am and 10:00 am Matthew 22:1-14 preaching: David Horne “The Wedding Banquet” October 16 8:30 am and 10:00 am Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Psalm 119:105 2 Timothy 3:14-17 preaching: Beth Freese Dammers “God’s Word: Our Light” October 23 8:30 am and 10:00 am Matthew 22:34-46 preaching: David Horne “The Greatest Commandment” October 30 Reformation Sunday 8:30 am and 10:00 am Joshua 3:7-17 Matthew 23:1-12 preaching: David Horne “The Reformation”

The November 2011 Chimes Deadline is October 15 at 9:00 am. Submit articles to Kris Mainellis, Communications Coordinator, at krismainellis@fpcah.org.

From the Pastor… by Dr. David L. Horne, Interim Senior Pastor

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“If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”

II Corinthians 5:17-18 In the winter of 1935, a group of ministers met to study the spiritual needs and possibilities of our church in Depression days. In the Lord’s Supper they saw a great opportunity to unify the membership in dedication to Jesus Christ. This early ecumenical awareness led to the first World Communion Sunday, November 11, 1936. In 1937, the General Assembly changed the date of World Communion to the first Sunday of October. On Sunday, October 2, you are invited to gather and celebrate the Lord’s Supper with the faithful of all races and nations. In this meal we are made one, united with Christ and with the church of every time and place. This unity, which God offers in the Sacrament, is a sign of unity God wills for all creation, all races, all tongues, all classes. May you join in worship at 8:30 am or 10:00 am on October 2 as we cele-brate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. In Christ we are one. Christ be with you.

October Worship

Facility Update The Narthex, Parlor, and Library will all be affected by work that will take place during the month of October. During the first week of October, the Parlor will be painted. Carpet will be installed during the week of October 17 in the Parlor, October 24 in the Narthex, and October 31 in the Library. Check the church calendar at www.fpcah.org carefully during that time, as a number of activities will be relocated during this period. Thank you for your patience during this time of facility improvements. We are still collecting funds to support our 2011 Extra Commitment Op-portunity, Carpet Replacement. Contact Cindy Koerner with questions, at cindykoerner@fpcah.org or 847-255-5900.

The Faithful Steward: Notes From Your Trustees by Cindy Koerner

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Best Practices and Opportunities for First Presbyterian Church by Chuck Cooper

The Mission Study Task Force is busy with the results of the Congregational Life Survey as well as the many member ideas and comments re-corded in congregational discussions. It is useful now to look at some of these findings in the light of norms and accepted best practices both to see how we compare and to uncover opportunities for improvement. Here in the shadow of Willow Creek, it is tempting to look at the mega church as a model, and some have suggested that. There are many charac-teristics of mega churches that merit study and perhaps emulation, but there is also considerable value in looking at thriving mainline churches that suc-ceed in fostering spiritual depth while also engaging with the world around. Christianity for the Rest of Us, by Diana Butler Bass, describes ten charac-teristics of flourishing Protestant churches, including many Presbyterian ones. Based on an in-depth study of fifty mainline churches across the country, ranging in size from very small to larger than First Pres, it identifies three core characteristics:

• Respect for tradition, but not traditionalism • Christian practice over theological purity • Wisdom through questioning, not certainty by directive

Practices found in these churches include welcoming strangers; discernment of God’s presence and will for our time; seeking wholeness over brokenness; meditative, contemplative prayer; sharing of personal faith experiences; di-versity along various dimensions; concern for justice as well as mercy; warm, multidimensional worship in which the fullness of God is experi-enced; lifelong learning and reflection; and appreciation for God’s mystical beauty, found, for example, in music and art. Reviewing some of the conflict noted by our discussion groups, there is am-ple reason to take the advice of churches in this study to emphasize “God-questions” over “I-questions” in our own discernment process. Similarly, although our groups lauded many for their individual welcoming efforts, they also displayed concern about the breadth and depth of congregational welcoming. Both of these are opportunities for us to learn from the best practices of congregations like ours. With more than 600 member participants, the Congregational Life Survey results are arguably accurate measures of our church. Not surprisingly, we score ourselves high on music, communications, and youth and children’s programs. However, for spiritual growth, mentioned often in congrega-tional group discussions, our self-assessment is much lower. In the survey, scores on the composite measure, “Growing Spiritually,” correlate with other important areas. Congregations in the 80th percentile or above on this measure also rank high in their sense of belonging, meaningful worship, and growth. But our score on Growing Spiritually is below average for both medium to large congregations and all Presbyterian congregations. In fact, more than 90 percent of all congregations scored higher than First Pres on this key measure in the most recent national sample. Clearly, this sug-gests spiritual growth as an opportunity to develop our own best practices for the future we want to have. Contact the Mission Study Task Force at MissionStudy@fpcah.org.

Pathways — A New Social/Service Group There are many pathways in life as we grow in relationships with each other and God. Therefore, we are pleased to introduce Pathways, a new social and ser-vice group for both families and individuals. We are a group of members and friends in our 20s and 30s, seek-ing to connect with each other for fun, service, and worship. Through Pathways, participants hope to develop a better sense of community, spirituality, and relationship with God. Upcoming Pathways Events October 2 — Coffee and donuts. We will gather in Room 202 Conference Room from 9:30 to 10:00 am to meet families and members of Pathways and learn about upcoming fall events. October 23 — Chili and Fall Fun. Bring the family and come join us for an afternoon of food and fellowship from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at the home of Lauren and Robbie Haas. Please bring an appetizer, salad, or dessert to share. We will supply the chili ($5 per family to cover the cost). And don’t forget to bring your own drinks. To RSVP or for more information about Path-ways, please contact Lauren Haas at 847-342-8119 or laurenhaas@hotmail.com or Courtney Childs at 312-502-6553 or cechilds@gmail.com.

Introducing... Pathways

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Snapshots From Our Family Album

by Kris Mainellis

Rich Reinschmidt Rich Reinschmidt and his wife Jane joined First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights in 1977. Both have been very active members of the congregation ever since. Cur-rently, Rich serves as an elder on Session and chair of the Adult Edu-cation Committee. Married for forty-three years, Rich and Jane met while singing in their high school choir in Cincinnati, Ohio. They have two sons, who were both born in Cincinnati. Their oldest son, Steve, lives in Charleston, North Carolina, and

their younger son, Todd, is mar-ried, has two children, and lives in Leland, Mississippi, where he is a minister in a small congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Although once in awhile Rich en-joys a game of golf, he particularly enjoys travel. He and Jane plan to do more traveling after they retire, “especially to see our two grand-daughters,” he says. In the meantime, Rich keeps plenty busy with his activities at church. This year is the last of his three years serving as an elder, and the second year of serving as the chair of Adult Education. “I got in-volved with this committee because Jane and I have enjoyed all of the educational opportunities at church over the last thirty-four years. I wanted to do my part to keep the tradition going.” Rich organizes meeting agendas, works with church staff, and facilitates meet-ings and activities of committee members. At this time, the committee deals mostly with the considerable under-

taking of planning speakers (usually brought in from outside the congregation) for the First Fo-rum adult education series held in the fall and spring, and the annual Anniversary Speaker. Plans are currently in the works to consoli-date more of the church’s Bible study activities under the umbrella of Adult Education. Rich enjoys working with the Adult Ed Com-mittee members, many of whom have been involved in organizing churchwide adult ed activities for many years. “It is good to see church members who take advan-tage of opportunities given them to enhance their spiritual journeys,” he adds. Rich has also served as a trustee twice and a deacon once over the years. He and Jane have been members of the choir since 1977. This is Rich’s fiftieth year singing in adult church choirs. Early on, Rich and Jane were active in leadership roles in family ministries and re-treats. “We have been blessed by this church family and friends over the last thirty-four years. I encour-age everyone to volunteer for lead-ership roles and to take advantage of opportunities to enhance your faith journey.”

First Forum

“Keeping a Spiritual Journal” Presented by Linda M. Bendorf Sundays, October 16–November 20, 11:00 am–noon, in the Boardroom

No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, you are welcome here. Author Helen Cepero said, “God wants

to surprise you with the beauty of your own life, growing and alive, filled with movement, light, and shadow.” Writing through the lens of God’s presence in our lives can help us to clarify, heal, explore, and understand, so journaling as a spiritual practice brings our spiri-

tual life into sharper focus. Our spiritual journals can: be a tool when we have a decision to make to help open us up to receiv-ing God’s wisdom; (2) help us to pay attention to our lives, to be more attuned to the world, and to notice God every day; (3) invite us to write about events, people, and circumstances in our lives through a spiritual lens; (4) remind us to embrace moments God has restored our souls; and (5) archive God’s active work in our lives.

Each week, Linda Bendorf will lead us on an inspired topic to spark conversation, reflection, and writ-ing. Sharing is optional. Come with a sturdy journal and your fa-vorite pen. Linda Bendorf is a mem-ber of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights; director of Blue Sage Writing, a Chicago area company

offering workshops, coaching, and consulting; and on faculty with the University of Iowa Writing Festival, Iowa City.

For more information, check out the Term I brochure or visit the Adult Education page at www.fpcah.org.

Term 2 Begins January 8, 2012 • “Israel & Palestine: History of

the Peace Process,” by Irving Birkner

• “Courageous Parenting in Diffi-cult Times,” by Gary Gilles

• “Discipleship for the 21st Cen-tury,” by the Rev. Dr. Frank Yamada

• “State of the Economy” and “Retirement Income,” by Doug Towsie

Stay tuned for more details!

What’s Coming Up

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Just Friends (singles 50+) October Activities October 8 — Off to the Races: Arlington Park outing. Meet at the church at noon. October 15 — All-Church Potluck/Hymn Sing, 5:30 pm at the church. October 22 — Dracula: The Musi-cal, at Cutting Hall in Palatine, 8:00 pm / dinner first / meet at church at 5:00 pm October 29 — Concert: Stevan Pasero, at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts / dinner first Contact for info and RSVP: Toni Eaton, 847-609-8030 Concert Series Wednesdays @ Noon — First Re-cital: October 5, in the Sanctuary — “Ring the Bells” Sundays @ 4:00 pm — First Concert: October 9, in the Sanctuary — The Orion Ensemble Turn to page 6 to learn more.

Parent Coffee Chat Sunday, October 9, 10:00-10:45 am, In the Chapel. Parents of 3-year-olds through fifth graders are in-vited to come and learn about all areas of our children’s ministries. Contact: Beth Freese Dammers, bethfreesedammers@fpcah.org or 847-255-5900. Dominican Republic Mission Trip Planning Meeting Sunday, October 16, 11:15 am – 1:00 pm, Room 101/103 — All those inter-ested in going on the mission trip or finding out more about it should plan to attend this meeting. Contact: Roger Bertelson, 847–397-8874. Chili and Fall Fun Sunday, October 23, 4:00-7:00 pm Sponsored by Pathways Turn to page 3.

Child Protection Training Sunday, October 23, 4:15-5:00 pm, in the Chapel. Contact: Beth Freese Dammers Aluminum Can Drive Saturday, October 29 9:00-11:00 am, West Parking Lot Why throw out your cans? Bring them to the church on October 29. We collect aluminum cans only. Proceeds will go to the Men’s Bible Study’s sponsored charities. If you need cans picked up, call Stan or Nancy Conning at 847-358-7259. Fall Blood Drive Saturday, November 5 8:00 am – 12:30 pm, in the Gym. Turn to page 10 for the details. Coming Soon… a handy guide to adult Bible studies and small groups at First Pres!

Have You Heard the News? First Pres is on Facebook and Twitter! Become a fan on Facebook today!

Follow us on Twitter @FirstPresAH

Visit our website at www.fpcah.org to get connected.

An Enlightening Evening With the 2011 Anniversary Speaker In an enlightening evening, the First Presbyterian Anniversary Speaker Series presented Barbara Bradley Hagerty, religion correspondent for National Public Radio, on Sun-day evening, September 25. Bradley Hagerty spoke on her best-selling book, Fingerprints of God: The Search for the Science of Spirituality.

Bradley Hagerty discussed the results of her research into the question, Can science explain God? Recounting her findings from her interviews with to-day’s top brain scientists, she also relayed how she observed and was even the subject of, several unique experiments to find this connection. A few additional questions Bradley Hagerty investi-gated included: Is spiritual experience real or a delusion? Are there realities that we can experience but not easily measure? Does your consciousness depend entirely on your brain, or does it extend beyond?

The evening concluded with fellowship time in the Parlor and book signings by the au-thor. Many thanks to the Adult Education Committee for planning this great event, and to the deacons who provided the delicious desserts after the presentation.

Visit our First Pres Webcasting archives

at www.fpcah.org to view the presentation! Just click

on Webcasting on the Home page.

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Music @ First Pres by Ken Whitney, Director of Music Ministries

Wednesdays @ Noon — Recitals October 5, 2011 Ring the Bells Featuring famous bell music for organ and solo handbells Christopher Urban, organ Kris Ward, handbells A carillon is a set of bells, usually arranged in a tower, played by a key-board. On Wednesday, the carillon steps down from the tower and takes center stage in our Sanctuary. The program features all “bell music,” from organ arrangements of famous carillon tunes to inspiring bell compositions by solo handbell ringer Kris Ward. The recital is part of our monthly Wednesdays @ Noon recital series. Each recital begins just after 12:00 pm, an ideal lunch-break concert during the middle of your busy week. The recital is free to the public; donations are welcome.

Announcing the 2011-2012 Concert Series

Sundays @ 4:00 pm — Concerts October 9, 2011 The Orion Ensemble String trios by Haydn, Khatchaturian, and Granados Recognized as one of Chicago’s finest chamber music groups, the Orion Ensemble is celebrating its nineteenth season performing an extraordinary repertoire. John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune calls Orion “one of Chicago’s most vibrant, versatile, and distinctive ensembles.” With the possibilities inherent in its unique combination of instru-ments—piano, string trio, and clarinet—Orion offers exciting interpretations of standard repertoire, introduces audi-ences to rarely performed masterpieces, and inspires composers with commissions for new works. Orion’s innova-tive programs feature diverse works by composers ranging from Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms to William Bolcom, Chick Corea, Paul Schoenfield, and Augusta Read Thomas.

The Orion Ensemble boasts a roster of five superb musicians who have performed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia as an ensemble and individually in solo, orchestral, and other cham-ber music roles. In Chicago, Orion presents a four-concert series in three venues, is heard regularly on the broadcast series, Live from WFMT, and appears frequently on the Chicago Cultural Center’s Lunchbreak Series, Classical Mondays. The concert is free and open to the public, with a free-will offering taken. Free child care is available. Soli Deo Gloria!

October 2 8:30 am Men’s Chorus 10:00 am The Chancel Choir

October 9 8:30 am Chamber Singers; Laura Utley, harp 10:00 am The Chancel Choir; Laura Utley, harp

October 16 8:30 am Bell Choir, Cherub & Carol Choirs, Westminster Youth Chorale 10:00 am The Chancel Choir & Bell Choir

October 23 8:30 am Chamber Singers 10:00 am The Chancel Choir

October 30 8:30 & The Chancel Choir 10:00 am & First Pres Brass

October Music in Worship

I hope you will enjoy this year’s First Pres Concert Series, including Sunday afternoon concerts at 4:00 pm and Wednesday recitals at noon, both held in the Sanctuary. This year promises to be a wonderful mix of music to delight the senses and stir the heart.

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Church Life

A New Life

Congratulations to: Greg Corwin — on

the birth of his grandson, Owen William Devine. Proud par-ents: Robyn and Zach Devine

Alison and Bob Harrald — on the birth of their grandson, Alexander Elliott Harrald. Proud parents: Brent and Marion Harrald

JoAnn Thompson — on the birth of her granddaughter, Rebecca Su-sanne Thompson. Proud parents: Phil and Katra Thompson

Jim and Jane Freyer — on the birth of their new grandson, Leon Paul Halatek, III. Proud parents: Leon and Julie Halatek

Tracy and Charlie Drost — on the birth of their son, Declan Fredrick. Happy siblings: Kaleigh and Char-lie; proud grandparents: Beth and George Drost; proud great-grandmothers: Helen Beart and Doris Drost

Baptisms Madelyn Rose Heffernan, daughter of Michael and Kristina Heffernan, was welcomed into

the family of faith on September 18, 2011. Madelyn was born May 1, 2011.

Sympathy Please join in extending sympathy to:

• Peggay McCallum and family and Becky Mezza and family — on the death of their father, Bruce Graham

• The family of Lucia Bannister

• Cynthia Hansen and family — on the death of her mother, Nancy Tippy

• Mark Farrahar and family — on

the death of his mother, Shirley Farrahar

• The Brodnan family — on the death of Virginia Brodnan

• Kim and David Hogan — on the death of Kim’s mother, Elizabeth Smith

Letters & Thanks Letters and thank-you notes from the congregation and community are posted on the bulletin board outside the church office area. This month, a note was received from Patsy Corts, with appreciation for flowers and visits.

Staffing Update Please welcome Lisa Math to the First Presbyterian Church support staff. Lisa is taking over the duties at the “front desk” as receptionist/administrative assistant. She is also the voice you are most likely to hear when you call the main church number. Mary Fino, who had that position previously, has moved up-stairs to assume the duties of ad-ministrative assistant and will con-tinue to handle our calendaring responsibilities. Ginny Braun, ad-ministrative assistant, relocated to the first floor earlier this summer.

Ghana Mission Blog Dianne Shields, associate pastor emerita, and her husband Jerry Shields, are serving in mission in Ghana, West Africa, through mid December. They are working with the Akrofi-Christaller Institute in Akropong, Ghana. You can follow their activities through their blog at http://whosaidretire.blogspot.com.

Claiming Faith by Beth Freese Dammers Our eighth grade Confirmation students shared a fun night together at their fall Lock-In September 23–24. The Lock-In was a great time to get to know one another, share interests, play goofy games, claim the church as our own, contemplate

Bible Sunday On Sunday, October16, third graders and eighth grade confir-mands will receive a Bible in wor-ship. Please contact Beth Freese Dammers with questions, at beth-freesedammers@fpcah.org or 847-255-5900.

faith and belief, eat pizza, and sleep on the floor of the Senior High and Middle School Lounges! There are seventeen eighth graders in the Confirmation class. They meet every Sunday morning from 9:45 to 11:00 am and will participate in hands-on mission and worship treks to explore other faiths and styles of worship. Please pray for the confirmands, as they are on the journey to claiming faith.

Online Registration and Payment for 4:11 You can still sign up for 4:11, our Wednesday afternoon/evening time of faith and fellowship for children and youth! Visit the Children’s page or Youth page at www.fpcah .org. Registration is $50 per child per term. Parents also can register their children and youth in person. Simply stop by the church office. Questions? Contact Beth Freese Dammers at bethfreesedammers @fpcah.org or 847-255-5900.

Brian Landwehr and Lindsey Fasules

invite the congregation and friends

to attend their wedding Saturday, October 15, 2011

3:00 PM First Presbyterian Church of

Arlington Heights

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Missions

In this unstable economic climate, Faith Community Homes’ mission to meet the housing needs and life challenges of neighborhood families is more important than ever. The organization started in 2003 as an initiative of the Arlington Heights Ministerial Association, which recognized the need to help low-income families with children who live or work in Arlington Heights. Executive Director Chuck Warner emphasizes that the program is unique because it focuses on fami-lies with school-age children who are facing homelessness, despair, and loss of confidence. Other or-ganizations or local government sources can provide occasional help, but there is no other program that can help them for extended lengths of time. On Sunday, October 23, Faith Community Homes’ major benefit, “Front and Center with Paul Meincke!” will be held at the Me-tropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights. An ABC7 News veteran TV reporter for nearly 25 years, Paul Meincke will relate many stories and insights from his career. A four-time Emmy award winner, he has reported from Saudi Arabia during the first Gulf War and served as the only Chicago re-porter in 1999 in Belgrade when the Reverend Jesse Jackson negoti-ated to have US servicemen released from hostage. The evening also features appetizers from the best Arlington Heights restaurants, cocktails, auctions, and entertain-ment by talented musicians from one of Metropolis’ music develop-ment programs. Please call the Faith Community Homes office at 847-342-0846 for tickets and sup-port their vital work.

When a family enters the program, Faith Community Homes commits to two years of support, which consists of limited financial support for rent and men-toring. “Mentoring is the most important part of our work, as this is where the families gain the support and guidance they need to become independent and self-confident,” said Warner. Families provide 30 percent of their income toward rent and Faith Community Homes supplies the remainder. Financial assistance for tuition and books may be provided to parents who decide to return to school. Since 2003, a total of 25 families have been through the program: 36 adults and 51 children. Of the 25 families, 14 of the parents returned to school and developed new skills, leading to improved employment and financial self-sufficiency. Upon completion of the program, 88 per-cent were able to live independently with improved employment, active bank accounts, better credit, and the confidence to face their futures successfully. Forty percent are Caucasian, 32 percent Hispanic, 6 percent African American, and 4 percent Filipino. Forty-four per-cent are two-parent families, 56 percent are single-parent families. Children range from infant to 18 years, with an average of 2.4 chil-dren per family. The families must agree to meet with mentors weekly for up to two years to review their budgeting, establish both long- and short-term goals, improve education, and work on other problems that may arise. The mentors are trained by Sister Carrie Miller, a professional program manager.

Three members of our congregation currently serve on the organiza-tion’s Board of Directors: Jim Mayer, John Sonderegger, and Laszlo Stephan. PADS Update by Linda Downie As you may know, our First Pres PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) site will not be opening in October, due to the flood damage from this past summer. We hope to be up and running by January, but that is just a hope at this point. To volunteer for either of two other Tuesday night sites available (Christus Victor in Elk Grove Vil-lage and Kingswood in Buffalo Grove), contact any of our three site directors: Helen Ross (847-392-0907), Christi Thompson (847-364-4959), or Linda Downie (847-902-2362). We will be glad to pass along your contact information to Journeys from PADS to HOPE. In addition, donations of clothes are welcome at Journeys, located at 1140 E. Northwest Highway, in Palatine (847-963-9163). Thanks to all who have volunteered over the past twenty years—we look forward to working with you again soon!

In April 2010, as part of First Presbyterian’s Service Day, church members helped clean up the yard of a family involved in the Faith Com-munity Homes mentoring program.

Faith Community Homes: Solid Support in Unstable Times by Phyllis Parlee

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The youth at First Pres have kicked off their fall program year with Wednesday night youth group (4:11) and Sunday morning educa-tion classes (Y-Search, Confirma-tion, and Senior High Sunday School). There are many opportu-nities this fall for the youth to par-ticipate in. Below are a few high-lights of what’s coming up in the month of October: October 2, 2:00 – 6:30pm: Senior high Sunday Off Site (SOS) (trapeze event) October 8: Confirmation Service Day at the Jonquil Hotel October 16, 8:30 & 10:00 am: Confirmands receive Bibles in worship October 21, 8:00 pm – October 22, 8:00 am: sixth and seventh grade Lock-In at First Pres

Memories of

Summer

Youth Ministries

Celebrating Summer, Jumping Into Fall by Emily Karstens

From My Perch on the Fencepost by John Sonderegger

Sharing God’s Gifts

The annual stewardship drive is under way. The theme of this year’s campaign is Receiving and Giving: Sharing God’s Gifts. Receiving and Giving: Sharing God’s Gifts is a simple theme. Yet it draws on the biblical philosophy of giving for our own spiritual de-velopment, rather than giving to meet the needs of the church. Receiving and Giving: Sharing God’s Gifts encourages us to give proportionately and systematically, responding to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?” As followers

of Jesus Christ we want to give un-selfishly as an act of discipleship. Receiving and Giving: Sharing God’s Gifts reminds me of verses from the ninth chapter of II Corinthians: “The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compul-sion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abun-dantly in every good work.”

Receiving and Giving: Sharing God’s Gifts will be celebrated in the liturgy of worship services, Sunday, November 13. At that time, our guest preacher, Dr. Bruce Rigdon, will offer inspired thoughts on giv-ing. We will then make our finan-cial commitment using an “Esti-mate of Giving” card. Dr. Rigdon is a pastor, theological educator, ecumenical leader, and social activ-ist who has had a wide-ranging influence on people and institutions around the globe over a career spanning half a century. Please look forward with me to Stewardship Sunday, November 13. Please join me in enthusiastic par-ticipation in the worship and in whole-hearted commitment to giv-ing to the mission and ministry of First Pres for 2012. Remember, God loves a cheerful giver!

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Webcasting at First Pres by Harry Gilling

Are you no longer able to attend Sunday worship services at First Presbyterian Church? What if you have a loved one who cannot at-tend church? Do you spend part of the year in another state? Are you out of town or out of the country for business or vaca-tion and want to par-ticipate in the service? Are you new to our community and look-ing for a church home? What if your children are sick on Sunday morning? Are you snowed in because the street is not plowed?

First Pres Webcasting Can Help Webcasting may be the answer for you. Webcasting is broadcasting on the Internet. It can be seen on your computer, tablet, or smart phone. Just visit our website, www.fpcah.org, to tune in to the webcast of our 10:00 am Sunday worship service. First Pres wanted a way to connect to our spiritual family when a member cannot attend services. It is also a way for a newcomer to the community to see who we are. The live webcast provides a means to be part of our service in real time if you are not physically able to join us in person. Not only is our 10:00 am traditional worship service web-cast each Sunday, but we also web-cast all musical concerts and noon organ recitals, as well as special occasions. It is staffed by a group of volunteers. If you are not able to view the service or event live, you can check in later and view it from the archive file.

How Do I Tune In? Go to First Presbyterian Church’s website: www.fpcah.org. Click on Webcast, near the top of the Home page. You’ll also see the “Live” Webcasting icon (shown in this

article). You can click on either to enter the Webcasting page. When the viewer comes up, click on the PLAY button (It looks like a trian-gle in the center of the circle). You are now connected and watching First Pres Webcasting. The PLAY button will not appear until we begin broadcasting. If you would like to follow along in the bulletin while watching the webcast of the 10:00 am service, you may download and print a copy. You can find links to our weekly worship bulletins on the Home page. We are transmitting a small picture that can be enlarged by clicking on the screen symbol (in the lower right corner of the view screen). The picture resolution is limited by the speed of our Internet connec-tion. If you move back from your computer screen when it is enlarged it will look clearer. Also if you have a flat panel TV you can con-nect the computer to that screen and have excellent results. If you are not able to view the ser-vice live, at 10:00 am, you can watch it at your convenience by looking at the archive file. The link to the archive file is just below the frame where you view the webcast. Since it is a computer using the Internet, we are subject to technical difficulties. We would like to hear from you if you are having prob-lems or have any questions or com-ments regarding First Pres Webcast-ing. Please send an e-mail to webcasting@fpcah.org and some-one will get in touch with you.

Webcasting Volunteers Many thanks to the volunteers who keep our webcasting up and run-ning: Pete Wilberscheid, Stephen Lee, John Jungst, Carol Frieburg, Evan Liddell, and Harry Gilling.

Food Barrels Ministry Needs Help Journeys from PADS to HOPE (1140 E. North-west Highway, in Palatine) is in desperate need of food donations for the many people in our community that they serve year round. First Pres has numerous food barrels located near church entrances for food drop-off at any time. These items are sorted by the deacons, picked up monthly by Journeys, and distributed to those in need. Unfortunately, in recent months the amount we have received has been down. Hopefully we can all add a few items to those barrels so our delivery baskets will once again be full each month.

Save the Date and Save a Life Our church will host a Fall Blood Drive on Saturday,

November 5, from 8:00 am to 12:30 pm in the Gym. Please con-sider participating in this impor-tant ministry to our commu-nity. To reserve your preferred time, book your appointment now in one of three ways: 1. On the web: www.lifesource.org Sponsor Code: AH14 2. By e-mail: at jayvee1@hotmail .com (Julie Vowinkel) 3. By phone: Call Julie Vowinkel at 847-956-1724 Thank you for the gift of life!

Deacons’ Corner

11

Children’s Ministries New Curriculum ‘Sparks’ Excitement by Michele Holifield

The Christian Education Wing has been buzzing with excitement. A new year of Sunday School started on September 11. The Children’s Ministries Committee, shepherds, teachers, and staff spent countless hours preparing for this morning. Introducing ‘Spark’ One of the excit-ing additions to the morning was the introduction of our new Sunday School curriculum for Preschool and Kingdom (K-5th grades) students—Spark. Our con-gregation has en-thusiastically sup-ported our rotation model of Sun-day School for many years, and our program even earned a feature in Time Magazine. The Children’s Ministries Committee agreed that the rotation model is a won-derful way to allow all chil-dren to learn, and looked for a curriculum that would fit this model. The Curriculum Committee and Children’s Min-istries Committee concluded that Spark would best serve our needs at this time. Spark is published by Augsburg Fortress Press. The curriculum is designed to activate the faith in our children through exciting and inter-active stations. The curriculum aids the teachers and shepherds in planning for each week, provides a family handout to use for discus-sion during the week, and also in-cludes two excellent Bibles—a story Bible for younger students, and a

youth Bible for elementary age students. Spark also provides planning for children in four different age groups to ensure that nobody is bored! Lessons are written for pre-school, younger elementary, older

elementary, and an “all ages” group of children. As in past years, the kin-dergarteners through fifth graders will continue with the rotation model. Sta-tions this year

will be Bible Games and Adventure, Creative Drama, Arts and Crafts, Computers, Movies, and new this year, a Science station.

This year, to enhance our Gathering Time, we have incor-porated mu-sic into the experience. We will include both new contem-

porary worship music and some old favorites. Students will rotate through the stations from week to week, focusing on one Bible story for five to six weeks. Preschoolers to Use Spark, Too We are also very excited this year that the three- and four-year-old Sunday School class will also be using the Spark curriculum. This will allow all children to be learn-ing the same Bible stories. We are hoping this enables families an opportunity to discuss what the

children are learning with the whole family and be able to apply these lessons during the week. After just one week, we heard posi-tive comments around this coordi-nation. Katy Allen, whose daugh-ters Emily and May are in first grade and the preschool class, com-mented, “Having all the classes learning the same lesson gives us a common reference for discussion that day and throughout the week. I think it’s an excellent change to the approach to curricu-lum. It encouraged a family con-versation rather than separate con-versations about what each learned. I think it’s fantastic!” Many Stories to Choose From Spark has about 100 Bible story units to choose from for the year. This year, we will teach the follow-ing stories in the Kingdom and Pre-school classes:

• Jesus Feeds the 5,000 • The Widow’s Offering • Advent/Christmas • Disciples • The Woman at the Well • The Lord’s Prayer (Preschool

will do Easter/Holy Week during this time)

• Creation Care The Children’s Ministries Commit-tee thanks the entire congregation for your support during this time of transition. We are excited about these times in the Sunday School program. If you feel called to vol-unteer your time with the children, please contact Rev. Beth Freese Dammers, at bethfreesedammers @fpcah.org or 847-255-5900, to discuss the possibilities. We are always looking for volunteers!

Creative Drama Station

Computer Lab Station

Arts and Crafts Station

The First Presbyterian Church 302 N. Dunton Avenue Arlington Heights, IL 60004-5993 Phone: 847-255-5900 Fax: 847-255-3475 www.fpcah.org

Join the All-Church Potluck & Hymn Sing Saturday, October 15, at 5:30 pm In the Gym

The all-church Potluck Dinner and Hymn Sing is right around the corner. On Saturday, October 15, gather in the gym at 5:30 pm to enjoy favorite recipes from our fellow members, followed by the singing of our favorite hymns at 6:30 pm, led by Gordon Palmer and accompanied by Chris Urban. Because of the renovations to the Kitchen and Fellowship Hall, we are asking that food brought for the potluck be ready to serve, including serving utensils. You are asked to bring either a main course (meatloaf or a hot pasta dish), a side dish (salad, potatoes, or vegetables) or dessert (cupcakes, brownies, cookies). All dishes should serve between eight and ten people. There will be sign-up sheets on October 2 and 9 between worship services, or you can contact the church office at 847-255-5900. This event is sponsored by Trendsetters and the Congregational Life Committee.

Mark your calendars for October 15 and plan to join the eating and singing!