This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
- The Guest House by Rumi
What guests come to your day, friends? I've been there. I did not want to wake up or go to work, but I had to push myself to move. I've been there. I was grieving but had to console others. I've been there. Unpleasant guests came, and my inner monsters came out with anger, fear, and sorrow, which felt heavier than my soul. Can we invite them all in - all the pain, agony, and mess of this life?
Besides these metaphorical guests, how about the persons, strangers, suddenly we cross on our way? How do we interact with unexpected visitors in our lives? Hebrews says, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." (13:2) Do we recognize when God's angels show up disguised?
This week, we will reflect on the story of Abraham - his generous and radical welcome of strangers. There's something we might learn from his faith in the hostile and fearful atmosphere these days when undocumented migrants are being arrested, even in schools and churches.
Join us for our in-person worship on Sunday at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary or join our online, live-streamed worship via the church website or Youtube channel.
Click here to sign in your attendance on the website. If you have joy or concerns to share, please submit them with your attendance record. It's important for us to know you were with us and stay connected in prayer.
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Warm Your Hearts Bake Sale
Sunday, February 2
Attention, rev up your ovens and dust off your soup pot, the 2nd annual Warm Your Heart and Soul Bake Sale is getting closer! Sunday, February 2nd is the date. Tired of baking? How about donating a meal basket? For example, a jar of pasta sauce, box of pasta and rolls or bread sticks in a basket for a meal? Last year we had dried, canned and frozen soups, bread, corn bread muffins and much more. Also baskets of chili, chicken casserole and pasta meal ingredients. Let's get creative! We also will take traditional baked goods - cookies, brownies, cupcakes, etc.
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Chicagoland Voices will present an encore presentation of their Winter Concert on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 7:00 pm in Libertyville that will feature a wide variety of choral music including contemporary choral, spirituals, vocal jazz and many more styles. Some composers featured include Eric Whitacre, Dan Forrest, Paul Simon, Stacey V. Gibbs, Elaine Hagenberg and many more. The concert is free to all and a free-will donation will be collected. For more information please like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ChicagolandVoices) or visit our Website (https://chicagolandvoices.weebly.com).
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Summoned to Serve
Sunday, Feb 9
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
McHenry Community College
Join us for our second annual meal-packing event with First UMC, Crystal Lake for Kids Around The World! Together, we’ll pack an incredible 80,000 meals to make a big impact. Prepare for a day filled with energy, teamwork, and the joy of serving others! Click here to sign up.
The day will look like this:
9-9:30 - Sign in and get your packing instructions
9:30-11:45 - Meal packing program
11:45-noon - Group photo and closing remarks
Childcare will be available for kids age 5 and under.
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Ryan's Case For Smiles
Pillowcase Sew-Along
Monday, Feb 10, 2025
1:30pm - 3pm
Join us in sewing whimsical pillowcases to be delivered to children in our local hospitals. "Helping Children & Families Feel Better to Heal Better." Pre-cut fabric kits for cases & borders will be provided. Sewing machines will be available. Your additional portable sewing machines are always welcomed! The Praying Stitchers monthly meeting will be held Feb 10 from 1-1:30 preceding the sew-along.
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Friendship Dinner
Saturday, February 22.
Mark your calendar for an evening of fun. Our youth will be serving you dinner. Reservations will be required. Tickets will be available soon. Proceeds will benefit our youth program.
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Traveling Tea Party
Do you love to visit people and listen to their stories? Do you have a heart for our seniors? The Nurturing Team is prayerfully considering forming a group of people who can visit our church family seniors every two months. We hope these visits will be a time of fellowship with simple treats and sharing communion (with pre-blessed elements). If you are interested, please join us for a training meeting on Sunday, March 2, following service.
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Praise, Pizza and
Paint Party
Saturday, March 15
3-6pm
Kids Drop-Off Event for the parents (of course, parents are always more than welcome to stay).Come and enjoy a guided paint party, pizza and some games! This event is open to the public, so please bring friends.
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We have a new addition in our parking lot - at the Northeast corner across from the bank. You can drop off gently used clothes and shoes in the bin. If it is full, do not leave your items outside but donate them at another time. Thank you!
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Ryan's Case for Smiles is a national volunteer organization that provides handmade whimsical pillowcases for children to help them cope with the stress of their illnesses and injuries. Cindy Kerr began making pillowcases for her son Ryan to brighten up his hospital room and put a smile on his face. Although Ryan is no longer with us physically, his legacy lives on in Ryan's Case for Smiles. There are over 100 chapters in the United States & Canada and over two million pillowcases have been delivered.
A new Western Suburbs chapter (Kane Co & McHenry Co, IL) has recently been established. We will be delivering bright, fun pillowcases to Ascension St. Alexius Women & Children's Hospital in Hoffman Estates, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, and Lurie Children's at Northwestern Medicine Hospital in Huntley. The Ryan's pillowcase pattern is available at: caseforsmiles.org
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If you would like to volunteer to sew a pillowcase, your pillowcases can be given to Jean J. at church on Sundays.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Jean Jaderborg, RCFS Western Suburbs Chapter Coordinator. Thank you!
815-508-0497 rcfswesternsuburbschapter@gmail.com
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The Huntley Fire Protection District is excited to introduce a new initiative - the Medical Equipment Lending Closet - designed to help our community members in need. But we need your help to get it started. We are seeking donations of medical equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, toilet seat risers, canes, crutches, and shower chairs. Your gently used or new equipment can make a significant difference in someone’s life. For more information, please contact HFPD Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) officer at 224-654-6868, M-F, 8am - 4pm.
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In the month of February we will be collecting for
Crystal Lake Food Pantry.
Items that the Food Pantry is currently in need of due to short supply from the Food Bank and other vendors:
Food Items:
Ramen Soup (all flavors)
Canned Chili (Beef or Chicken)
Canned Beef Stew
Paper Towels
Sugar
Canned Pasta
Laundry Soap
Dish Soap
Crackers
Toilet Paper
Bar Soap
Tea
Coffee..
Shampoo
Tooth Brushes
Tooth Paste
Adult Protein Drinks
Jelly (any flavor except Grape)
Large Juice
Pancake Mix
Oil...
Flour
Cereal (Heart Healthy)
Rice & Other Whole Grains
Facial Tissues
Size 5 and 6 Disposable Diapers!!
Gluten Free products are always a great choice!!
Additional Items that the Food Pantry seldom purchase, but can always use:
Canned Tomatoes
Condiments (Ketchup, Mustard, Relish, Mayonnaise, BBQ Sauce)
Salad Dressing
Spices
Salt & Pepper
ANYTHING IS GREATLY APPRECIATED
Alternate to shopping: If you prefer to give a monetary donation, please make the check payable to Christ United Methodist Church. It is very important that you write on the memo line “Food Pantry.”
Drop off pantry items any time during office hours, Tues - Fri, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
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You can now make all your donations online. Click here or scan the QR Code. You can also mail the donation to church or use EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer). For any assistance, contact Joe Greenwood at josephgreenwood@yahoo.com .
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Please sign up on the calendar (inside the kitchen cupboard door) on a Sunday you would like to furnish a light treat and serve coffee & juice. All supplies except "treats" are at the church.
Thank you, Janet Kleckner
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February | March | Feb 2 - Linda Riggs | March 2 - Janet Kleckner | Feb 9 - Food Packing Event | March 9 - Karen Sersen | Feb 16 - Bonnie & Dave Dodge | March 16 - Potluck | Feb 23 - Bev & Dennis Vander Vorste | March 23 - |
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Seeking Part-Time Keyboard Player for practices on Wednesday nights and performances on Sunday mornings. Contact the church office if you or someone you know would like to audition. Please see the church website for more info.
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For the family and friends of Pauline (Green) Perna, as they mourn her loss
For Cameron Huibregtse, who is being treated for his autoimmune disease
For Logan Moring, who is expecting to be discharged from rehab soon
For Elantine Brighten's mother, Nalini Azariah, who has started radiation treatment for her breast cancer
For Ken Spooner, who got has started radiation therapy
For Duane Graf as he adjusts to Memory Care
For Eleanor Kilberger's best friend Carol, who is getting chemo for her third bout of cancer.
For Charlotte Letterle's mom, Dannie Jean Richardson, who is in the hospital recovering
For Sherry Mark, who is coping with side effects from her cholesterol medication
For Pastor Mi-Sook's niece, Dain, who is has been diagnosed with autoimmune disease and is receiving treatment
For all the family and friend of the victims of the American Airline crash
For those who are affected by natural disasters throughout the world especially for those affected by the wildfires on the west coast and the dangerous winter weather on the east coast
For those who struggle with mental health and their families
For our local communities, our nation and our world
For peace and resolution in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict
For people in Ukraine and those who left Ukraine fleeing from war
For the grieving families and communities of gun violence
“Merciful God, hear our prayers!”
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We never pray alone but together as a community. We have a prayer chain, a small group of those who pray for submitted requests throughout the week. Let us pray for our church family, friends, neighbors, and our nation. Let’s draw the circle wider. Contact the pastor to join.
If you would like to keep your prayer request in beyond 2 weeks, we would appreciate if you contact the office with an update.
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GA Meeting
Thursday, January 30 at 7 p.m.
AA Meeting
Saturday, February 1 at 7:30 a.m.
Praise Team
Sunday, February 2 at 8:45 a.m.
GA Meeting
Tuesday, February 4 at 7 p.m.
Praise Team
Wednesday, February 5 at 7 p.m.
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Welcoming the Full Inclusion
of All People
Website: www.gocumc.org
christumcalgonquin@gmail.com
(847) 669-9009
Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
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