Little Home Church by the Wayside / UCC | |
By the Way | JANUARY 2026
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I am writing this late on Christmas Eve, after two very different—and profoundly meaningful—worship services. The congregation has gone home. The candles have been extinguished. Pageant costumes hang quietly in garment bags, waiting to be returned to the attic until next year. What remains are a few pieces of hay that escaped the broom, some poinsettias, me—and this beautiful, sacred silence.
It truly is a silent night. And it feels deeply holy. I am blessed beyond measure.
As I sit with the quiet, I realize how strongly this moment echoes the theme that has carried us through Advent and Christmas: “Reflecting the Sacred.” There is something wholly sacred in the stillness after the celebration, in the pause that allows us to savor what has been and gently prepare for what is to come.
Though the year is not quite over, the pages of By the Way turn us forward, inviting us to look ahead to 2026. As I do, the words of poet T. S. Eliot come to mind from his Four Quartets: “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language / And next year’s words await another voice.”
Eliot reminds us that each new year offers renewal—a fresh language for new experiences, new perspectives, and new understanding. It is an invitation to hope. The words of the coming year are waiting, and perhaps God is calling each of us to be part of the voice that speaks them.
So what opportunities await us?
I am especially looking forward to our upcoming all-church read, Barking to the Choir by Gregory Boyle (be sure to see the article elsewhere in this issue). His words challenge us to see one another with compassion, dignity, and love—values that feel especially important as we step into a new year together.
Lent will arrive before we know it, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 18, with a theme centered on “Breaking Bread Together.” And I mean that quite literally—not only at the communion table, but around shared meals. I am proposing gatherings on Wednesday evenings throughout Lent, from Ash Wednesday through Maundy Thursday, to eat together, talk together, and grow together.
What might that look like? Themed meals? Different cuisines? Simple, good old-fashioned church potlucks? Please share your ideas, your creativity, and your participation with me through an email. Community is built one table at a time, and there is something sacred about breaking bread side by side.
As I finish writing, the church remains quiet, the night still holy. I am grateful—for this church, for the year that has been, and for the promise of what lies ahead. May the God who was born into our world meet us again in the days to come. May 2026 bring renewed faith, deeper compassion, and many sacred moments—some joyful, some challenging, all held in God’s grace. And may we continue, together, to reflect the sacred in our lives and in our love for one another.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Larry
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WE ACCEPT, EMBRACE AND AFFIRM THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF EVERY PERSON,
AS WE ARE ALL CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE.
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'Come together to serve'—get involved and join a group,
an event, or a LHC initiative.
Worship Service Sundays, 9:30 am
(recorded/uploaded to our YouTube channel during the week)
Weekly Bible Study—Wednesdays, 10 am via Zoom and in person
Community Yoga—Tuesdays, 9:30 am and 11 am in Community House
Un-Hanging of the Greens—Monday, Jan. 5, 6:30 pm
A Book & A Prayer Book Club—Thursday, Jan. 8, 7 pm via Zoom
Men of LHC Monthly Breakfast Meeting—Saturday, Jan. 10, 8:30 am
Sisters in Spirit Breakfast Potluck—Saturday, Jan. 10, 9 am
All Church Read Discussion #1—Sunday, Jan. 18, 11 am
Northern Illinois Food Bank Volunteer Session—Saturday, Jan. 17, 9 am
Elgin Cooperative Ministries Soup Kettle Kitchen—Sunday, Jan. 18, 4 - 6 pm
Church Council Meeting—Tuesday, Jan. 20, 6 pm
Contemplative Service—Thursday, Jan. 22, 8 am & 7 pm
By the Way Submission Deadline—Friday, Jan. 23
SAVE THE DATE
Sunday, February 1, 11 am
'Februal' Congregational Meeting
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm—630.584.4013
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Fresh Beginnings
There’s a special kind of magic at the start of a new year. The warmth and joy of the holiday season still linger, even as we turn the page and step into something new. Christmas reminds us who we are, and January invites us to imagine who we are becoming.
As a church, we carry that spirit forward. The music, gatherings, and generous care of Advent flow into a season of fresh beginnings. New ideas take root, new relationships form, and new opportunities to serve begin to unfold.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.” (Romans 15:13)
As we begin this year together, may we move forward with hope, gratitude, and open hearts. Happy New Year to this remarkable community.
With love and gratitude,
Kit DeWitt, Moderator
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New Year’s Morning
Helen Hunt Jackson (1830 - 1885)
Only a night from old to new!
Only a night, and so much wrought!
The Old Year's heart all weary grew,
But said: "The New Year rest has brought."
The Old Year's hopes its heart laid down,
As in a grave; but, trusting, said:
"The blossoms of the New Year's crown
Bloom from the ashes of the dead."
The Old Year's heart was full of greed;
With selfishness it longed and ached,
And cried: "I have not half I need.
My thirst is bitter and unslaked.
But to the New Year's generous hand
All gifts in plenty shall return;
True love it shall understand;
By all my failures it shall learn.
I have been reckless; it shall be
Quiet and calm and pure of life.
I was a slave; it shall go free,
And find sweet peace where I leave strife."
Only a night from old to new!
Never a night such changes brought.
The Old Year had its work to do;
No New Year miracles are wrought.
Always a night from old to new!
Night and the healing balm of sleep!
Each morn is New Year's morn come true,
Morn of a festival to keep.
All nights are sacred nights to make
Confession and resolve and prayer;
All days are sacred days to wake
New gladness in the sunny air.
Only a night from old to new;
Only a sleep from night to morn.
The new is but the old come true;
Each sunrise sees a new year born.
With love and gratitude,
Grace Bardsley, Director of Music
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Get ready for the All Church Read 2026...Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship by Gregory Boyle.
In a moving example of unconditional love in difficult times, the author, a Jesuit priest and New York Times bestselling author, shares what working with gang members in Los Angeles has taught him about faith, compassion, and the enduring power of kinship. This book is guaranteed to shake up our ideas about God and about people with a glimpse at a world defined by more compassion and fewer barriers. Gently and humorously, Barking to the Choir invites us to find kinship with one another and re-convinces us all of our own goodness.
We’ll meet January 18, February 8, and March 8 at 11:30 am in the Community House with a lite lunch served. See the sign up sheet in the Parish Hall.
Support a local business and friend of the church and get your book at Town House Books in St. Charles. Mention it’s for the Little Home Church All Church Read!
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The New Year is here. At church...
—Have you resolved to introduce yourself and greet people you don't know?
—Have your resolved to invite people to visit our church?
—Have your resolved to consistently wear your nametag?
—Have your resolved to assist where possible with Fellowship?
No need to answer...just ponder.
Blessings for 2026.
Rose Mayer, Evangelism Ministry Chair
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Our responsibility to those experiencing food insecurity continues into 2026.
We have to two ongoing monthly commitments:
—We have a volunteer session every third Saturday of the month from 9 am - Noon at the Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva. Our 'team' allows for six of us to help with various tasks each month. The next few sessions are on January 17, February 21, and March 21. There is a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall.
—The third Sunday of each month, we will prepare and serve dinner to approximately 60 people at the Soup Kettle Kitchen located at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin. This is a program run through Elgin Cooperative Ministries.
Consider making one (or both) of these efforts part of your resolutions for 2026!
Please reach out to us and we will welcome your help as we collectively serve those that are less fortunate. Just drop us an email or give us a call and we will help you get involved! And as always, we are grateful to you for your support.
Andrea Redmond/Mary Fleishmann
Outreach Ministry Chairs
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You guys are amazing! Your generous spirits have helped make a child's Christmas special. We gathered two boxes full of toys for Toys for Tots! All of these toys stay local in DuPage County. We even had to make another quick drop-off for those straggler toys.
Santa tapped one of our new church members, Izzie Ordinario to make the delivery!
Thank you again for your warm and caring hearts!
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Thirty SiSters gathered together on December 17 for a festive dinner at Dunham Woods Riding Club in Wayne. A holly, jolly time was had by all.
We invite all women of LHC to join us on Saturday, January 10 at 9 am for a potluck breakfast in the Parish Hall. We will do our debriefing on the Symbols of the Season event and discuss plans for 2026!
Anne Bouchard & Susi Winquist
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Happy and Joyful New Year!
The mission to renovate the Sanctuary and Parish Hall and construct a new Community House has been fulfilled. We achieved these goals as a small and mighty congregation with a huge heart, a "can do" spirit and a generous soul. It has been the sincere pleasure of the Joyful Team to tackle and accomplish this $1.6M over the past 8+ years. Thank you for entrusting us with this transformational campaign.
The fulfillment of pledges and individual commitments are ongoing for Joyful, Too. Going forward together, we will chip away at our mortgage and work on revitalizing the landscaping on the church campus. Nothing is impossible with God!
Anne Bouchard
On behalf of the Joyful Committee
Joyful Committee: Anne Bouchard, Pastor Larry Dieffenbach, Chip Braulick, Kit DeWitt, Bob Kaska, Kathleen Sullivan Kaska, Susannah Lesswing and Susi Winquist
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COMMUNITY YOGA AT LITTLE HOME CHURCH | |
The Little Home Church is pleased to welcome Hatha Yoga classes in our Community House beginning January 6, 2026. These classes are open to the community and are designed to support both physical well-being and inner calm.
Traditional Hatha Yoga emphasizes breathwork (pranayama), gentle postures (asanas), relaxation, and moments of stillness (meditation). The classes offered at the Little Home Church focus on mindful, accessible movement that nurtures the body–mind connection. Whether practiced at a steady pace or with added support, participants are encouraged to leave each class feeling centered, balanced, and renewed.
Class Schedule—Tuesdays
—Hatha Yoga / Mat Practice, 9:30 to 10:30 am / A full, balanced mat practice at a steady and approachable pace.
—Gentle Yoga with Props, 11 am to12 pm / A slower-paced class using supportive props, including chairs, to make the practice accessible to all.
Students will be asked to sign a health waiver prior to participating. Please bring a yoga mat, yoga blocks, and a blanket. The cost is $15 per class.
New to yoga or have questions? Contact Chris Lund at chris.lund75@icloud.com.
Chris Lund has been teaching yoga in the Fox Valley since 2012 and brings a depth of experience and care to her instruction. She holds a 200-hour certification from Prairie Yoga in Lisle, Illinois, and completed 500 hours of advanced training at the Himalayan Institute in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
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| | Another Little Home Church Christmas Pageant is in the books! THANK YOU to everyone who made this sweet and heartfelt event happen. We are grateful to you ALL and to everyone who made the pageant a part of their Christmas Eve plans. |
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Wednesdays, 10 am—In person & via Zoom
The Wednesday Bible Study Class is studying the book of Acts. There is minimal preparation needed. Come for some great discussion!
Bible Study meets in person in the Pastor’s Office or on Zoom at 10 am.
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Our Contemplative services will resume after a short holiday hiatus. Our next one will be January 22 at 8 am and 7 pm. The list of dates can be found here.
Spread the word and bring a friend. It's a peaceful way to either start or end your day.
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Click Here LHC Book Club—Via Zoom
Meets 2nd Thursday of the Month, 7 pm
Next Meeting—January 8
We kick off 2026 with Patriot by Alexei Navalny. The posthumous memoir of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, which chronicles his life as an anti-corruption activist, his political career, and his fight against Vladimir Putin's regime. The book begins with his near-fatal poisoning in 2020 and recovery, then delves into his youth and rise in politics. Navalny details his experiences with government repression, his love for Russia, and his eventual imprisonment, culminating in a final call to his supporters and a testament to his principles.
Click here to see the books chosen for 2026!
Click here for Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 891 0088 0154
password: bookclub
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Over the past few months, we have had church members (and non-members) send us photos of our sweet church. They drive by, or look back and see her magic and her beauty and snap a photo. Please don't hesitate to send us these photos. We are always thrilled to get them and to share them on our social media pages. Just email us the photo at info@littlehomechurch.org
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As Christians, one of the most powerful privileges of our spiritual life is the invitation to feel God’s grace and presence through ongoing prayer. Believing in the power of individual prayer, a prayer offered up by many becomes even more powerful. With that thought in mind, we invite you to join our Prayer Chain to support the spiritual life of members and friends of Little Home Church.
To Make a Prayer Request: Click Here
Email: info@littlehomechurch.org
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Jan 6 — Jean Muno, Gary Withall
Jan 9 — Will Soukup
Jan 10 — Bob Hendry
Jan 11 — Wanda Hochstetter, Christa Kentfield
Jan 12 — Will Lesswing
Jan 14 — Jeremy Neukirch
Jan 16 — Pat Bartell
Jan 20 — Genevieve Neukirch
Jan 24 — Candy Boulay, Aaron Bragg, Nick Metzger
Jan 25 — Clara Shelton
Jan 28 — Cobey Bienert
Jan 31 — Jeff Schramuk
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FELLOWSHIP / USHERS / PULPIT ASSOCIATES / FLOWERS | |
Time to sign up!
A simple way to give the gift of your time and enhance our worship experience at the same time is by signing up to be an Usher or a Pulpit Associate! We have upcoming openings over the next few months where we can use your help! It's easy and appreciated.
Our Fellowship coffee time after worship is in full swing. Consider hosting one Sunday with a friend! You provide the goodies, we provide the coffee and tea.
You can also check out the flower sign up sheet to provide Flowers one Sunday to decorate our altar table.
The sign up sheets are up in the Parish Hall. If you have any questions, just contact the Church Office.
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To those recently ill or hospitalized...
Joe Sterner, Kit DeWitt, Nick DeWitt, Barbara Lyon, Valeri Baldwin
Our sympathies to...
The family and friends of church member, June Bruskewitz who passed away last month. Memorial services will be scheduled at a future date.
The family of Barbara Johnsen, a former Wayne resident, who passed away on Christmas Eve at the age of 93.
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Thank you for continuing to remember Little Home Church by the Wayside.
Your support is greatly needed and appreciated.
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| THANK YOU TO OUR CHURCH STAFF, COUNCIL, AND ALL VOLUNTEERS | | |
Pastor - Larry Dieffenbach
Director of Music - Grace Bardsley
Office Manager - Lori Prang
Organist/Pianist - Nick Metzger
BTW Editors and Graphic Design
Lori Prang and Kathleen Sullivan Kaska
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CHURCH COUNCIL
Moderator - Kit DeWitt
Moderator-elect - Samantha Prang
Christian Education - Emma Kaska
Congregational Life - Cris Kalomiris
Evangelism - Rose Mayer
Facilities - Brian Martisauski/Jan DeWitt
Outreach - Andrea Redmond & Mary Fleischmann
Stewardship - Emily Miller
Worship & Spiritual Growth - Greg Abell
Members at Large - Suzy Moore, Doug Kurtz
Financial Treasurer - Chip Braulick
Financial Secretary - Mary Harling
Clerk - Kristen Thornton
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