December 10, 2020 www.presbyws.org

Weekly Connection

Dear friends, Advent at PCWS has been off to a wonderful start at PCWS. We have come into Advent with expectant hearts - longing to see God’s indwelling of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in our lives again and anew. I hope and pray that you have been finding ways to do that. This past Sunday was truly a wonderful day at PCWS. It was inspiring to see so many folks gather! It also felt a bit strange, I know. It made me long even more for the time when we’ll be back together. It shall come, friends. In the meantime, we are embracing the challenge of gathering in new ways. A couple of notes from Sunday: I hope you’ll come by and see the signs that many families decorated that now surround the Christmas Tree. If you did not make a sign, please come by and create one! They’re located in the black box outside the church office. You can place completed ones there as well and we’ll get them added. A special thank you to Jim and Tricia Koning for leading our music on Sunday afternoon. I especially enjoyed the incorporation of some honking horns … it made for a fun afternoon. Click here for a fun video showing the journey of our Christmas Tree and the lighting on Sunday! We need your help as we prepare for Christmas Eve! On Sunday you should have received candles for Christmas Eve that you can also use to take individual photos of your family members. Please take pretty close-up photos and you can email them to pcws@presbyws.org or text them to me at 408-219-3190. Please do this ASAP and no later than 12/15. ALSO, please record a video greeting from your family (about 5-15 seconds) and send to me the same way! If you didn't make it on Sunday, you can pick up your candles and a PCWS ornament for your Christmas Tree, again, in the black box outside the office. Thank you for doing these two things before 12/15 ... why not do them today!? Thank you to everyone who came to our Gingerbread Nativity-making event on Tuesday night and to Pastor Lottie for teaching us all! It was a lot of fun and also a great way to hear the message of Jesus's birth. And thank you also to those of you who came to our Community Conversation last night about homelessness in our region and to Kevin McDermott for moderating the panel and leading our discussion. Watch for more of these sessions in 2021 as our Mission Committee engages us in conversations related to our mission engagement. I look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday when Pastor Lottie will be preaching and our confirmation students will be received as members! It will be wonderful time celebrating the Joy of Christ in the world and in our community.  Peace,

Pastor Erik P.S. Next Sunday, December 20, we’ll have a brief congregational meeting after the worship service using Zoom. Watch for connection information in next week’s Weekly Connection. The purpose of the meeting is to elect church officers and to approve the terms of call for Lottie and me for 2021. P.P.S. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Alternative Giving Fair! If you haven’t had a chance yet, we’ve kept the online fair open a little longer, so you can still make contributions by clicking here to visit!

Watch our Worship Services Live Sunday morning @ 9:30 a.m.

Sunday Sermons Available Online

No matter where you may be in the world, you can feel close to PCWS!

Click here to view previous Sunday worship videos and bulletins.

Sunday School for preschool-5th grade at 10:30 - click here for more information and links

Connect

Serve

By popular demand, you have one more day for the Alternative Giving Fair!

Let's Fill the can and Support Second Baptist Church of La Grange Food Pantry Thanks to all who have helped to fill the baskets for the food pantry at 2nd Baptist Church in LaGrange! Our regular Monday morning delivery has helped to make a greater impact on the community that 2nd Baptist serves. Please continue to remember our neighbors who struggle with hunger and, as you are doing your grocery shopping, consider adding a couple extra items for the pantry. Food items can be dropped off Sunday mornings or any time during the week in the can near the entrance from the parking lot.

Pray

Our siblings at Nueva Paz Presbyterian Church in Cuba  Our men & women serving our country in the Armed Services  The people of Syria, and especially the relatives of PCWS’ Interfaith Women’s Book Group  First responders, nurses, doctors, and others providing care to others Ann, friend of Joyce & Herb Smyers Betty Anderson Betty Toft  Bob LeMay, friend of Kay Kelly  Brent Young, son-in-law of Larry & Becky Glasscock  David Bebb Jones Family and friends of Wayne Filar, Candice Mares’ cousin George Bruser, uncle of Donna Kanak & Diane Bonner Holly Oliver, daughter of Mary Kae Headland  The family of Inez Martinez, friend of the Merrifield family  Jan Fortina Jessie DeFano, niece of Michelle Hennessy John Kregg Joshua Haberkorn, grandson of Shirley Pine Julie Garino Kathleen Kircher  Laura Gertsmeier Laura Querry, daughter of Becky & Larry Glascock Marc Goldstein, friend of Carol Ulreich  Mary Jo Blough Mary Jo Long Mary Kate Miller, step-mother of Julie Garino  Mary, dear friend of Bruce Geary  Michael De Vries  Michael, friend of Jane Norman  Nate & Joann Dardick, friends of Laurie Merrifield  Norb Mirlenbrink, Uncle of Lori Carsten  Pat McTiernan, friend of Phyllis DiFrancesco  Pat White, friend of Becky Glasscock  Paulette Erickson, friend of Carol Ulreich  Peggy Mirlenbrink, aunt of Lori Carsten  Peter Wilkie  Phil Kasik  Ruth Kaduke, niece of Herb & Joyce Smyers  Shannon Cavanaugh, niece of Phyllis DiFrancesco Steve, friend of McMahon Family Teri Tuffner, aunt of Candice Mares  Terry Moore, friend of Mike Pelton Theresa Ybanez, great niece of Laura Fruit  Parents of Tiffany Sellman   Wendy Montague, friend of Candice Mares

Stephen Ministers Are Available We are a congregation that prays with one another and for one another. You are encouraged to pray for the concerns on this prayer list even though you may not know the details. Our Stephen Ministers are praying as well. If you would like to have a Stephen Minister pray for you or with you (over the telephone, FaceTime or ZOOM), please reach out to Joyce Rodos, the Stephen Ministry leader.

Celebrating Birthdays:

12/10 Steve Wennerstrum 12/11  Rachel Skeels 12/11  Terry Kelly 12/13  Larry Glasscock 12/13  Sarah Blough 12/15  David Petersen 12/16  Barbara Bauer 12/16 Sandy Adams 12/17  Barb Vaughan 12/18  Hank Vaughan 12/19  Anna Weber 12/19  Ellie Tester 12/21  Maryna Hoskins

Support

Online Giving During this time of virtual worship all are invited to continue supporting the mission and ministry of PCWS by: Dropping off or mailing your contributions directly to our church office at 5250 Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL 60558, or Donating online - click the button below. Did you know you can use our giving site to set-up recurring or one-time payments (there's no fee when you use your checking or savings account.) Since we’re not gathering in-person, this would be a good time to set-up electronic payments. Please contact our Financial Secretary Patrick Rivers, with any questions or for instructions for setting up payments through your bank.

Donate Online

Thank you for your ongoing support of our ministries, particularly during this uncertain time.

Make a difference this holiday. Shop for gifts at smile.amazon.com to generate donations for Presbyterian Church Of Western Springs

PCWS Office Closed The PCWS office remains closed for the immediate future. Our office staff are still working remotely and on a limited basis. If you need immediate assistance, please email Pastor Erik or leave a message for him on his church extension which he checks regularly, or call his cell. Staff is checking the U.S. Mail daily. The mailbox is a locking box, so please feel comfortable dropping off correspondence directly (including contributions).

Remember PCWS in your will and estate planning.  Please contact Pastor Erik for more information.

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