Little Home Church by the Wayside / UCC | |
By the Way | January 2025
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It's 2025 and time to start reading! The All Church Book Read is once again upon us. I've chosen "The Universal Church: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For and Believe" by Richard Rohr.
“In his decades as a globally recognized teacher, Richard Rohr has helped millions realize what is at stake in matters of faith and spirituality. Yet Rohr has never written on the most perennially talked about topic in Christianity: Jesus. Most know who Jesus was, but who was Christ? Is the word simply Jesus's last name? Too often, Rohr writes, our understandings have been limited by culture, religious debate, and the human tendency to put ourselves at the center.
Drawing on scripture, history, and spiritual practice, Rohr articulates a transformative view of Jesus Christ as a portrait of God's constant, unfolding work in the world. "God loves things by becoming them," he writes, and Jesus's life was meant to declare that humanity has never been separate from God--except by its own negative choice. When we recover this fundamental truth, faith becomes less about proving Jesus was God, and more about learning to recognize the Creator's presence all around us, and in everyone we meet.
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Thought-provoking, practical, and full of deep hope and vision, The Universal Christ is a landmark book from one of our most beloved spiritual writers, and an invitation to contemplate how God liberates and loves all that is.”
Fr. Richard Rohr is a globally recognized ecumenical teacher bearing witness to the universal awakening within Christian mysticism and the Perennial Tradition. He is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fr. Richard's teaching is grounded in the Franciscan alternative orthodoxy—practices of contemplation and expressing itself in radical compassion, particularly for the socially marginalized.
Fr. Richard is author of numerous books, including Everything Belongs, Adam’s Return, The Naked Now, Breathing Under Water, Falling Upward, Immortal Diamond, Eager to Love, and The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation (with Mike Morrell).
Fr. Richard is academic Dean of the Living School for Action and Contemplation. Drawing upon Christianity's place within the Perennial Tradition, the mission of the Living School is to produce compassionate and powerfully learned individuals who will work for positive change in the world based on awareness of our common union with God and all beings.
The dates will be: February 2, March 2, and April 6 after church fellowship. Location TBD
Get your books at Townhouse Books and Café —support local business and Friends of LHC.
Grace & Peace
Pastor Larry Dieffenbach
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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
Weekly Choir Rehearsal, Wednesdays, 7 pm
Church Council Meeting—Monday, Jan. 6, 6:30 pm
'Unhanging of the Greens'—Tuesday, Jan. 7, 6 pm
Contemplative Service—Thursday, Jan. 9, 8 am & 7 pm
A Book & A Prayer Book Club—Thursday, Jan. 9, 7 pm via Zoom
Men of LHC Monthly Breakfast Meeting—Saturday, Jan. 11, 8:30 am
Sisters in Spirit Breakfast Meeting—Saturday, Jan. 18, 9 am
Northern Illinois Food Bank Volunteer Session—Saturday, Jan. 18, 9 am
By the Way Submission Deadline—Monday, Jan. 20
Contemplative Service—Thursday, Jan. 23, 8 am & 7 pm
'Janual' Congregational Meeting
Sunday, January 26, 11 am
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm—630.584.4013
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“The Secret of Life is Enjoying the Passage of Time”
by songwriter James Taylor
My husband used to say this to me all the time, it was one of his sayings I will never forget. In fact, for some time I thought he came up with the saying, until one day I heard James Taylor singing it on the radio 😊 whoops! I had a good chuckle at myself over that one!
This time of year, we cannot help but reflect on the passage of time. What were our “Joys and Concerns” of this past year, and what do we hope to accomplish in the New Year?
Personally, I cannot believe that I am six months into my term as Moderator, time really has flown by. From the start I have kept a notebook with handwritten notes with ideas of what I need to do and goals I would like to accomplish. I recently reread my notes, some of the items I have gladly checked off the to-do list, but I was also reminded that some items need to be revisited and prioritized for 2025.
Setting goals for the New Year is a great way to inspire personal growth and achievement. Pastor Larry and I recently completed the annual performance reviews for our outstanding staff, and one of the things we discussed was their goals and what they would like to achieve in 2025.
I think that we can all agree that setting goals allows you to measure your progress over time. Now I would like to challenge you to think about Congregational goals. What is one thing that you can do as a member of our Congregation in 2025 to help serve the LHC Community? How can you improve your relationship with God, help a fellow member in need, help a stranger in need, or volunteer on a committee?
Your Treasurer Chip Braulic and the entire Council have been very hard at work preparing and fine tuning the 2025 Annual Budget for LHC. A tremendous amount of time and effort has gone into this from researching prior years expenditures to forecasting income and expenses for 2025. This year we had the extra challenge of forecasting expenses for the new Community House. This budget will be presented for approval to the Congregation at our Janual meeting on January 26. Attending this meeting would be a great place for each and everyone of us to start off their Congregational goals for LHC by attending and participating at our 'Janual' meeting.
May this year bring you Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, and Cheers to achieving your goals for 2025!
Julie Graham, Moderator
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Ring Out, Wild Bells
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.
Alfred Lord Tennyson
Grace Bardsley, Director of Music
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OUR CAMPAIGN UPDATE
As we conclude the Stewardship Campaign on the feast of the Epiphany, the similarity of the three kings bestowing their gifts to the baby Jesus and our congregation bestowing their talent and gifts to the Little Home Church and its mission, should not be over looked. We enter 2025 with spirits lifted as we see our new Community House under construction and knowing that we will continue to give of ourselves for fellowship, being ushers and pulpit associates, singing in the choir, supporting our Outreach activities, knitting prayer shawls, maintaining our facilities, visiting members that are in need and/or serving in one of our ministries.
We are also confident that we will continue to give the financial support needed to keep Little Home Church viable and a vibrant source of service in our lives and in our communities. We have not reached comparable results for this time last year with our campaign, so if you have not returned your pledge card for 2025, please do so as soon as possible. This campaign provides the largest portion of our operating revenue, and it is important to enter 2025 on a strong financial footing. If you need a pledge card, please contact Lori at the Church office.
We have attached a PDF version of our Electronic Debit Authorization form. There is no easier way to make your weekly or monthly contributions to the Little Home Church than letting us do the work for you. You can use this for both your Stewardship pledge and your Joyful Community House pledge.
Thank you and best wishes for a Happy and Healthful 2025.
Peter Connolly, Stewardship Chair
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On Sunday, December 8 we welcomed seven new members into our Little Home Church Family.
Monika Broeckx
Monika lives in Wayne with her husband and her son and his husband. Another son lives in Canada and another son lives in France with his family and Monika’s five-year-old grandson. The rest of her family lives in Germany and Belgium.
She works part time as a freelance proofreader in English, German, and French for a knit and crochet designer in Denmark. Her primary hobby is knitting. But she also enjoys reading and baking. She said just wait for the German Christmas cookies coming soon.
Katelyn DeAlmeida and Cobey Bienert
Kate and Cobey are newly engaged and plan to have their wedding next September here at the Little Home Church. Cobey is a musician and writes scores for podcasts and independent films. He also does that for his own enjoyment. Cobey plays guitar and sings. If he were to join the choir, he would be a tenor. Kate worked as a nurse for 10 years and now works on the research side of things at Northwestern Medicine. They live in Elgin and love it! They have a dog named Cooper. They enjoy playing pickleball, going to local music shows, trying new breweries, and hanging out with family and friends.
Beverly Miller
Bev lives in St. Charles. She has three daughters and three grandchildren, none of whom live nearby. One of her granddaughter’s is named Rose. Her hobbies are learning about skin care, nutrition and cooking healthy meals. She enjoys walking, yoga, and spending time with dear friends and family. Bev learned about the Little Home Church from her friend, Barb Braulick who invited her to attend the Contemplative services a year ago. Then slowly started attending Sunday services.
Candy Boulay
Candy is retired from the St. Charles Park District and lives just down the road in St. Charles. She keeps busy with swimming, quilting, embroidery, and other crafts. One of the first things she noticed when she visited the church was the beautiful quilt hanging in the back. She thoroughly enjoys visiting her seven grandchildren who are scattered in New Hampshire, Oregon, and Amherst, Wisconsin. Candy is looking forward to making new friends and being involved in the church.
Susan Lyons
Susan has lived in the area for 30 years and currently lives in downtown St. Charles. She lives with her adorable 4-year-old pup who is a rescue from Anderson Humane. She currently serves on the Board of Directors at Anderson Humane and has been a supporter there for 40 years. She has worked for and volunteered in development for non-profits for 25 years.
Susan enjoys playing piano, walking, biking, the theatre, and being with friends and family. She has three siblings and many nieces and nephews who are all grown up now. She grew up in the Baptist church where her mother was a deacon.
Kay Kendall
Kay and her husband, Ed were longtime residents of Glen Ellyn before moving to St. Charles two years ago. She is a neighbor of Judy Hopkins. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the St. Charles Singers but only for one more month as she is retiring. Once retired she hopes to discover a hobby. Kay has three adult children and their spouses and partners who are spread across the country. She is the grandmother of three. Kay and her spouse split their residency between Illinois and Wisconsin but over time looks forward to becoming more involved with the church activities.
Please introduce yourselves when you see them! We look forward to them becoming active in the life of our church!
Rose Mayer, Evangelism Ministry Chair
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A New Year brings new opportunities!
Our commitment to Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva is the third Saturday of each month from 9 am - Noon beginning Saturday, January 18. We have six slots open each month and it's a good time. The tasks vary from month to month and are relatively easy. If you have physical limitations and we let them know ahead of time they can make special accommodations.
There is a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall or contact the Church Office and we can register you.
Let us continue our commitment to do our small part in helping to eliminate food scarcity.
The gift of your time is appreciated.
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CHRISTMAS PAGEANT 2024 - THAT'S A WRAP! | THANK YOU to everyone who helped pull off another fabulous Christmas Pageant! We are grateful to all the children who practiced and participated as well as to everyone who made Little Home Church part of their Christmas Eve plans. | | | |
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Happy New Year!
In December we held a positive, productive recap meeting after our very successful Spirits of the Season holiday bazaar. We are already planning for ‘Spirits’ 2025.
Our January meeting will be on Saturday, January 18. We will join each other for breakfast at Tasty Biscuit, 3755 East Main Street, St. Charles at 9 am. We will be discussing our plans for 2025 and our intentions for 2025 donations and expenses.
Sisters in Spirit (SiS) is the LHC women’s group and we welcome all women members and friends of LHC to join us. We generally meet on the third Saturday of the month.
Connect with Susi Winquist or Anne Bouchard for more information about SiS.
Blessings,
Susi Winquist & Anne Bouchard
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Happy New Year!
Construction is well underway on the Community House. Weather permitting (🙏🏼) we are on track for completion in March 2025.
We are very grateful for the informed technology expertise provided by Dan Gardner and David Tooby, two of our local BFCs (Best Friends of the Church). Dan and David have been integral to our plans for audio/visual components in the Community House and for technological connectivity between all of our buildings. Needless to say, our own in-house ‘techsperts’ Mark Lesswing and Samantha Prang also contribute to the tech discussions. Thank you all.
Gratitude is an ongoing theme for the Joyful Committee. On behalf of the entire congregation, thank you to everyone who has made a ‘Joyful, Too’ donation or pledge. We have received commitments of $155,000 toward this second fundraising effort. Every gift is meaningful and appreciated and it is NEVER too late to participate.
Cheers! and Thank You!
Anne Bouchard
On behalf of the Joyful Committee
Joyful Committee: Anne Bouchard, Chairperson; Pastor Larry Dieffenbach; Chip Braulick; Kit DeWitt;
Bob Kaska; Kathleen Sullivan Kaska; Susannah Lesswing; and Susi Winquist
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Wednesdays, 10 am—In person & via Zoom
We are going to start off the New Year with a study of the Lord’s Prayer. We will use the book The Lord’s Prayer: The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught, by pastor and bestselling author Adam Hamilton.
“The power and significance of the prayer Jesus taught. Most Christians know the Lord’s Prayer by heart. We pray it often, at different times and in different settings. We remember it as the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. But do we really understand and appreciate the meaning and power of its words, what we ask of God each time we pray it? When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, Jesus gave them this prayer. He likely taught it to his followers often, not just one time. He never intended the Lord’s Prayer to be a museum piece, framed and placed on a mantel or in a display case. It was Jesus teaching God’s people, through his disciples, how to pray. In The Lord’s Prayer: The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught, Adam Hamilton guides us to really know—and really pray—the Lord’s Prayer. He explores each of its rich lines and their meaning in the Bible, illuminating what we ask of God and what we ask of ourselves through its words. And he teaches us how to use it as a pattern for our own prayer life.”
Bible Study meets in person in the Pastor’s Office or on Zoom. We will begin on January 8, 2025 at 10 am. The book is available on Amazon or your local book store. If you need Pastor Larry to order you a copy, please email him at larry@littlehomechurch.org. The cost of the book if you order from Pastor Larry is $12.
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Our Contemplative services for this month are January 9 and 23. There are two services each of those days, 8 am and 7 pm and each last only 30 minutes. Take 30 minutes out of your day and gather with others as Pastor Larry leads you through a guided mediation on the theme of the day.
A list of all the services can be found HERE.
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LHC Book Club—Via Zoom
Meets 2nd Thursday of the Month, 7 pm
Next Meeting—January 9
The first selection of 2025 is The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride. In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived when Moshe integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. When the state came looking for a deaf boy to institutionalize him, it was Chona and Nate Timblin, the Black janitor at Moshe’s theater and the unofficial leader of the Black community on Chicken Hill, who worked together to keep the boy safe.
As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins of white, Christian America struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on Chicken Hill and the part the town’s white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community—heaven and earth—that sustain us.
Click here for Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 891 0088 0154
password: bookclub
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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
Homepage: littlehomechurch.org
Email: info@littlehomechurch.org
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Jan 2 — Bob Schless
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 — Aaron Bragg, Nick Metzger
Jan 25 — Clara Shelton
Jan 31 — Jeff Schramuck
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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 this winter 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. 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...
Rev. Ron Purser, Joe Sterner
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From the Wayne Countryside Garden Club
Big Thanks to You All!
The Little Home Church is such an asset to the entire Wayne Community. Our village would not be the same without the church's support and generosity. Our club's Holly Hanging event is such a big part of our club. We can't tell you how much we appreciate being able to hold it at your church—not to mention the WCGC greens sale, flower sale and the community events we host. The entire church is amazing!
Thank You Thank You!
Wayne Countryside Garden Club
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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 | |
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Pastor - Larry Dieffenbach
Pastor Emeritus - Rev. Ronald Purser
Director of Music - Grace Bardsley
Office Manager - Lori Prang
Organist/Pianist - Nick Metzger
BTW Editors
Lori Prang and Kathleen Sullivan Kaska
Graphic Design
Kathleen Sullivan Kaska
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CHURCH COUNCIL
Moderator - Julie Graham
Moderator-elect - Kit DeWitt
Christian Education - Emma Kaska
Congregational Life - Mira Reid
Evangelism - Rose Mayer
Facilities - Brian Martisauski
Outreach - Andrea Redmond & Mary Fleischmann
Stewardship - Peter Connolly
Worship & Spiritual Growth - Greg Abell
Members at Large - Heather Bragg &
Ann McLaughlin
Financial Treasurer - Chip Braulick
Financial Secretary - Mary Harling
Clerk - Kristen Thornton
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