Little Home Church by the Wayside / UCC | | |
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”
– John Lubbock
The sounds of the final days of school are loud and clear outside my office window from the children at Wayne Elementary School. I remember that feeling well; looking forward to days of exploring in the lakes and creeks around my childhood home, having friends over to swim in the pool, barbeques, spending weeks at my grandparent’s lake cottage with cousins. It was carefree and magical.
How to capture that experience as an adult is a bit more challenging and quite honestly, I like working. But it is important to rest (and I’m not talking of sleep.) The words of the Twenty-Third Psalm come to mind, “God makes me to lie down in green pastures, God leads me beside still waters, God restores my soul.” It is during these times when we are calm, quiet and unhurried that God can speak to us. We can “Be Still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). It would appear that rest is important to God too, we need only to think of the creation story and the seventh day.
Summer is a time when many folks visit other churches so let’s keep the pews filled, welcome visitors and continue to share God’s love with others especially when they come through our doors.
Thanks to all who have shared music selections with us for our summer of God speaking through our secular music as well as our sacred.
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
Wayne Flag Day Parade—Sunday, June 8, 3:45 pm
A Book & A Prayer Book Club—Thursday, June 12, 7 pm via Zoom
Men of LHC Monthly Breakfast Meeting—Saturday, June 14, 8:30 am, Eggsceptional Cafe
Sisters in Spirit Breakfast Meeting—Saturday, June 14, 9 am
Norman Miller Memorial Service—Saturday, June 14, 2 pm
Elgin Cooperative Ministries Soup Kettle Kitchen—Sunday, June 15, 2 pm
Church Council Meeting—Monday, June 16, 6:30 pm
By the Way Submission Deadline—Wednesday, June 18
Northern Illinois Food Bank Volunteer Session—Saturday, June 21, 9 am - Noon
Contemplative Service—Thursday, June 26, 8 am & 7 pm
Kane County Cougars All Church Baseball Outing—Sunday, June 29, 1 pm
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm—630.584.4013
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Gratitude
Thank you to all of you who attended our Junual Congregational Meeting this past Sunday. We had a successful Annual meeting discussing our current financial position and electing our new Church leadership for 2025/2026.
Reflecting on the role and responsibilities of being Moderator you quickly realize that effective Church leadership requires teamwork. I have been blessed to work with the dream team of Pastor Larry, Lori, Grace and Nick, along with our Church Council our new Financial Team of Chip and Mary, and all of our Committee members. All of you shared your time and talents and for this I am eternally grateful.
I would like to add a special thank you to our outgoing Council members Ann McLaughlin, Mira Reid, and Pete Connolly, it was a pleasure working with you.
The greatest gift is both the opportunity and the ability to serve. I was mindful of this last year but now 12 months later I am truly in awe of what an opportunity I was given to be your Moderator. I learned a tremendous amount about the 'business’ end of the Church, and I really got to know and work with such gifted people, my heart is full with gratitude and love.
We accomplished a tremendous amount this past year, including the completion of the Community House which is the newest addition to our Church campus since 1980 when the offices where added to the Parish Hall. We have a small but mighty Church and we are blessed and grateful for all that God has bestowed upon us.
I consider being a part of planning for the future of our Church to be the greatest gift and opportunity and for this I am eternally grateful to our LHC. I wish the incoming Council the best of luck and am confidant in their abilities to successfully guide us into the future.
Thank you for a wonderful year,
Julie Graham, Moderator
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It may come as a surprise to some of you but in addition to being the Director of Music I have another job at The Little Home Church…the janitor/custodian.
"When someone says the words 'janitor' and 'custodian,' many people have an immediate image that comes to mind. After all, they are people that play an important role in our lives, even if we may not see them during usual business hours. Both words have stunning origins that highlight their importance. Each can be traced back thousands of years.
'Janitor' finds origins all the way back to the ancient Romans. 'Janus' was their guardian god of portals, doors, and gates. From 'doorkeeper,' the word evolved to mean taking care of the insides of buildings as well.
'Custodian' also has Latin roots from the ancient Romans. This word refers to having custody and care over something. It is still used in the legal world today to refer to someone having the legal responsibility to care for another.
Both of these words have origins that focus not just on cleaning a space but caring for one.” (The Internet - Janitronix)
It is a job I love because it is a space I love and a people I love who occupy that space. Cleaning and organizing are truly rewarding to me. It is my way of caring for both. Seeing something be as beautiful as it can be makes me happy. People, things, and places are unquestionably more attractive when they are clean.
Our building(s) and grounds are the first things that attract people to our church; they are curious about such a lovely place…the clean lines, the windows, the steeple and bell, the gardens and hardscape…each little touch putting forth its best self…(not overgrown, or peeling, or cluttered) inviting people to come inside and discover more!
Once inside, more beauty is to be found in the simple beauty of the Sanctuary, the cleanliness of the hallways, the restrooms, and the welcoming tables of the Parish Hall. The “mundane task” of keeping this hallowed space clean and organized is the first step in our mission to serve our community. We then continue to build our community by providing a space which compels us all to linger, to share, to grow, to love…to be included in God’s family.
To be entrusted with this “mundane task” is a high honor and privilege. The joy of caring for The Little Home Church By The Wayside is one of the best of my life and I thank you for it.
Your janitor,
Grace Bardsley, Director of Music
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Everyone is invited to this long standing Wayne tradition!
We'd love a good Little Home Church turnout to help pass out the
small Wayne Flags to everyone attending!
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Volunteers Needed to Smile and Say, "Cheese"
This is an easy and fun way to help out with evangelism. Our committee is putting the finishing touches on an updated church brochure. This brochure will be mailed to area residents to welcome them to the area and to invite them to visit our church community. We want a photo showing all ages: babies, toddlers, school children, young adults, etc.. I think you get the idea. The photo will be taken June 15, Father's Day, right after church. No names will be printed with the picture and the photo itself will be approximately 3 X 1 inches when printed. Contact me by email or see me at church to ask questions and/or to volunteer.
Rose Mayer
Evangelism Ministry Chair
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Our Outreach Ministry is excited to partner with the Elgin Cooperative Ministries and their Soup Kettle Mission. We have committed to the third Sunday of the month and will provide and serve dinner to approximately 60 people who are currently experiencing food insecurity. The dinner is served at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin from 4 – 6 pm.
Elgin Cooperative Ministries is a network of nonprofit organizations and faith communities that work together to “nourish our neighbors” in Elgin. Their website states, “The Elgin Cooperative Ministry exists to bolster whole-life stability for our neighbors by advocating for their nourishment, health, and success.” They provide hot meals every day of the week, no questions asked.
Our first Sunday is June 15. Given that it’s Father’s Day, many of us have plans for the day, so we plan to cater from Kabob’s in St. Charles. Brian Martisauski, along with his family and Pastor Larry will pick up the food and serve it. We could use a few extra volunteers to help serve that day and be on staff with us. The event has very little set up or clean up.
Please consider helping offset the cost of the kabobs, by making a donation via cash, check, Venmo or Zelle. In the future we will prepare the meals and transport them there and serve.
We’re excited to start this new opportunity as we do our part to help with the epidemic of food scarcity.
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Our monthly volunteer commitment to the Northern Illinois Food Bank in Geneva continues with the next dates being June 21 and July 19. It is a 3-hour session beginning at 9 am and the tasks vary each month. There are sign-up sheets in the Parish Hall. Let's continue to do our small part to help with food scarcity.
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Neighborhood Food Pantries will be hosting a 5K Family Fun Run/Walk at the Town Center in Carol Stream (located at Lies & Gary Avenue) on Saturday, June 21. Registration opens at 7:30 am, 5K/Fun Run/Walk begins at 8:30 am. Registration is $40 per person. Click Here for more information.
Contact the Church Office with any questions.
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2025 All-Church Cougars Baseball Game
Sunday, June 15 is the last chance to sign up and reserve tickets for this year's all-church baseball game, which is Sunday, June 29 at 1 pm. The tickets ($15 each) and parking passes ($6) will be available by reservation only. Tickets include a $15 coupon that can be spent on concessions. A sign-up sheet will be available in the Parish Hall through Sunday, June 15.
Men’s Breakfast
The Men’s Breakfast is on the second Saturday of each month at 8:30 am. This month's location will be at Eggceptional Cafe (1085 Army Trail Road), on Saturday, June 14. To ensure adequate seating, please contact Chris Thornton by the evening of June 13 if you would like to attend.
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Sisters in Spirit (SiS) thanks all purchasers and helpers for yet another wonderfully successful Plant Sale. Only two flats of veggies and herbs were left ‘by the wayside’ and these were donated to the Food Pantry at Resurrection. And, by the end of May, the SiS quilters had nearly completed our Community House quilt. No idol hands in this group!
Our next breakfast meeting will be in the Parish Hall on Saturday, June 14, 9 am. We will be discussing the new Soup Kettle program and reviewing our finances as we determine how best to serve others with our gifts. All are welcome, please RSVP to Anne or Susi.
Blessings,
Susi Winquist & Anne Bouchard
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Crossing the Finish Line
Sidewalks, appliances, flooring, lighting, corbels, inspections, walk-through, punch list! Sisters and Brothers, we are nearing the finish line for the Community House. We expect to receive a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) shortly, possibly by the end of May. The occupancy status is ‘temporary’ due to the need for a permanent, ADA compliant, exterior landing and transition from the double doors on the west side to the surrounding courtyard. We can fully use the building once we receive the TCO, but we must complete the required exterior work before December 1, 2025.
On that note…we have hired Landscape Architect Allison Brown to design a comprehensive landscape plan for the church ‘campus.' After interviewing 6 firms, we determined that Allison was the best fit for our project AND she happens to live just down the street from the church! Allison will work with us to develop a design that fulfills the ADA requirements and complements the style of our existing landscaping.
Finally, this bears repeating: many thanks to those members and friends who have responded to the call for additional financial support for the Joyful Campaign. As construction comes to a close and we move fully into repayment of our mortgage, each gift beings us closer to becoming debt free. No gift is too small, too early, or too big! Thank you, thank you, 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
The Wednesday Bible Study Class is studying the Revised Common Lectionary. This study will discuss upcoming scriptures used each Sunday in worship. There is minimal preparation needed. All you need is a Bible. 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 service for this month will be on Thursday, June 26. There are two services, 8 am and 7 pm and each last only 30 minutes. Take half-hour out of your day and gather with others as Pastor Larry leads you through a guided mediation on the theme of the day.
July's service will be July 17 and we will take the month of August off.
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CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES! | |
Alex Karwowski (son of Kathryn & Dave Karwowski)
Graduated University of Minnesota with a BFA in Journalism and begins a job with KAAL-TV in Rochester, MN.
Alec Thomas (son of John Thomas & Heather Bragg)
Graduated University of Illinois/Champaign-Urbana with a Master's Degree in Urban Planning and will begin a new job as a planner for the Village of Shorewood IL.
Zora Djordejevic (granddaughter of Marilyn & Dave Poole)
Graduated American International School near Tel Aviv Israel and will attend the American University in Paris.
Riley Bair (granddaughter of Monte & JoAnn Okey)
Graduated Dunlap HS in Dunlap IL and will attend University of Illinois to study finance.
Ryan Towler (grandson of Monte & JoAnn Okey)
Graduated Saline High School in Saline, Michigan and will attend community college to study computer science.
Josephine Myers (daughter of Claudine Myers)
Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Judson College with a BA in Accounting & Business Management.
Jennifer Kroll (niece of Claudine Myers)
Graduated from Triton College with high honors and a degree in Engineering Technology.
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LHC Book Club—Via Zoom
Meets 2nd Thursday of the Month, 7 pm
Next Meeting—June 12
The June selection is How to Read a Book by Monica Wood. Violet Powell, a twenty-two-year-old from rural Abbott Falls, Maine, is being released from prison after serving twenty-two months for a drunk-driving crash that killed a local kindergarten teacher. Harriet Larson, a retired English teacher who runs the prison book club, is facing the unsettling prospect of an empty nest. Frank Daigle, a retired machinist, hasn’t yet come to grips with the complications of his marriage to the woman Violet killed. When the three encounter each other one morning in a bookstore in Portland—Violet to buy the novel she was reading in the prison book club before her release, Harriet to choose the next title for the women who remain, and Frank to dispatch his duties as the store handyman—their lives begin to intersect in transformative ways.
How to Read a Book is an unsparingly honest and profoundly hopeful story about letting go of guilt, seizing second chances, and the power of books to change our lives. With the heart, wit, grace, and depth of understanding that has characterized her work, Monica Wood illuminates the decisions that define a life and the kindnesses that make life worth living.
Click here to see the remaining books chosen for 2025.
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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June 1 - Bob Kaska
June 4 - Mary Alice Roach, Brittany Winquist
June 6 - Jorge Brito, Nicki Rutledge
June 8 - Luke Figurski, Mary Harling, Nancy Schatzeder
June 12 - Lynne Burke, Lori Haseltine
June 16 - Caroline Berger, Julie Graham
June 17 - Peter Roach
June 22 - Mira Reid
June 24 - Barbara Braulick
June 27 - Joe Miller
June 29 - Eleanor Karwowski, Alex Kentfield
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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 spring 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...
Joe Sterner
Our Sympathies...
To the family & friends of member, Mona Rose. She passed away quietly this past month. All arrangements were private
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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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