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Surely, This Must Be It
Everyone has a job. I wash the potatoes, filling the sink with slivers of potato peel. You brine the turkey, hovering by the oven all afternoon. Someone sets the table, taking care to fill a vase with asters and marigolds, sprigs of holly and shoots of evergreen. We play music while we prepare. “What The World Needs Now is Love” comes on. We can’t get it out of our heads. We whistle along to Dionne all afternoon. And eventually, the doorbell rings.
You’ve invited the neighbors, the grad student who sits on the second row at church, the widower in the choir. We add seats to the table. We go around the room and share one thing we’re grateful for. Eyes well as we create a laundry list of beauty. The kids get squirmy, but we’re grateful for that too.
And then we eat! We scoop whipped potatoes and crisp green beans with fresh garlic. We pass the bread basket, leaving crumbs all over the table. They are tiny reminders of communion in our midst. And at the end of the night, when we walk our guests to the car and carry sleeping children to their car seats, our neighbors say, What a holy moment it all was. Surely this must be what heaven feels
like. Surely we can create it together.
Poem by
Rev. Sara Speed
Join us in worship as we imagine how the good news of God's kingdom empowers us to believe in the miracles that can become possible through the power of caring community. In-person service is at 10 a.m., and you can watch the live-streamed service at home as well via the church website or Youtube channel.
Click here to sign in your attendance on the website. If you have joys 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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Lenten devotional and prayer cards are ready for pickup at the lobby table.
Take them with you this Sunday and
use them as your companion for the Lenten journey.
You can also receive online daily reflection through the church Facebook page. Please click here to follow and like!
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Easter Flower Sales
Orders are now being taken for Easter lilies, tulips, hyacinths and daffodils which will beautify our sanctuary on Easter, and may be taken home after our Easter service, or if you prefer, donated to beautify our church's landscape. Click here to order online. You can also fill out the order form in the Sunday bulletin or call the church office to place an order. Please remember to put "Easter flowers" on the memo line of your check. All orders must be in by March 15. Please order as soon as possible. Quantities are limited.
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Monthly Newsletter
The March Newsletter is available for pick up. You can pick up the newsletter when you are at church. You also have the option to read the newsletter on our website or down below in our "Conference E-news and Newsletters" section. If this does not work for you, we will mail out your newsletter. Please let us know if you would like for us to take you off the mailing list. Click here to read the March newsletter.
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Lent Study
The Last Supper: Conversations That Led to the Cross
Wednesdays at 10 a.m.
You're invited to travel with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem in this Lenten study that explores the parables and stories Jesus told at tables along the way to his final meal. Will Willimon asks readers to experience how these table stories―about searching shepherds, welcoming hosts, prodigal sons, and rejected invitations―illuminate the deeper meaning of the Last Supper and Christ's sacrifice.
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Youth Group
Sunday, March 8 at 4 p.m.
Come meet your friends and learn and share a great time of fellowship this Sunday at 4 p.m.
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Praying Stitchers will be holding a Ryan's Case for Smiles Pillowcase Sew-Along Monday, March 9th 1:30-3 p.m. Children's pillowcase kits will be provided. No sewing experience needed. We will also be working on a Spring Bunny craft for The Oaks of Algonquin, and a Project Linus children's fleece blanket project. Everyone welcome! Bring a friend!
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An Afternoon of
Legos and Games
Saturday, March 14
2-4:30 p.m.
We invite all children to join us for an afternoon of legos and games. This is a kids drop off event, but parents are more than welcome to stay. Watch for the upcoming sign up in the church lobby or call the church office. This free event is open to the public, so please bring friends.
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The Wednesday group invites you to join their service day at Feed My Starving Children at the Schaumburg location on Wednesday, March 25, 9 - 11 a.m. Click here to sign up.
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We are looking for donations of pre filled plastic Easter eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 28. Please drop off your donations by Thursday, March 26. If you don't have time to shop, you can make a donation and we will purchase the eggs for you. Thank you!
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Breakfast with the Bunny
Saturday, March 28
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
We welcome you to join us on Saturday March 28 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. for pancake breakfast with the Easter Bunny! We will also have a Petting Zoo from 10-11am, photos with the Bunny and a egg hunt! Reserve your spot for breakfast. Space will be limited. You can sign up in the church lobby or call/email the church at 847-669-9009 or christumcalgonquin@gmail.com with your RSVPs. This event is open to all. Invite the neighbor kids and your friends!
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Please talk to the Sound Team if you have difficulty hearing during the worship service. We have hearing devices available for you, and if you're already using a hearing aid with a Bluetooth function, we can make adjustments for you as well.
Stop by the sound booth to get assistance!
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Are you ready for a clean out?
We have a new addition in our parking lot - at the Northeast corner across from the bank. You can drop off gently used soft items. Please see list below. If it is full, do not leave your items outside but donate them at another time. So far we have received $712.45. All donations will go to the mission fund. 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 are interested in sewing Ryan’s Case for Smiles whimsical children’s pillowcases for hospitals in our area, please contact Jean Jaderborg at 815-508-0497
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In the month of March we will be collecting for
Grafton 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:
THIS MONTH THEY NEED PEANUT BUTTER!
canned tuna
canned chicken
canned salmon
fresh, canned, or frozen fruit
healthy snacks
juice, tea, applesauce
yogurt, pudding, jello
Personal Care and paper goods:
deodorant, razors, feminine hygiene products
soap, body wash
toilet paper, paper towels, tissues
napkins, paper plates and cups
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). The Stewardship letter and pledge cards have been mailed out. We ask that you prayerfully consider supporting the ministry of CUMC in the following year. Please bring or mail the filled out pledge card before the end of the year. Thank you! 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
| | | March | April | | March 1 - Linda Riggs | April 5 - | | March 8 - Maurice & Jennifer Pang | April 12 - | | March 15 - Enrico & Daisy Santoso | April 19 - | | March 22 - Cooper Family | April 26 - | | March 29 - Mindy Zeppo |
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For the friends and family of Eric & Michele Linner's good friend, Jeff Wilson, who suddenly passed away
For Amy Huibregtse and her family as they mourn the loss of her brother, Eric Plate
For Sue Pedersen and her family as they mourn the loss of her brother, Steven
For Don Deak who is being treated for AFib
For the Kilberger's friend, Gary, who is suffering with a slow growing blood cancer
For Judy Lantinen's husband, Keith, who had basal cell carcinoma on his leg and prostate cancer
For Linda Mullen's friend's, daughter-in-law, who was taken by ICE
For Lisa Greenwood mother, Patricia English, who is receiving chemo
For Larry Huber who is continuing his healing and recovery at home
For those who are affected by natural disasters throughout the world
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 the grieving families and communities of gun violence
Prayers for the ceasing of state violence and the protection of all people
For this world that is in need of God's healing touch. Where there is war, bring peace; where there is despair, bring hope; and where there is division, bring unity.
For God's protection over the vulnerable and for wisdom to guide our leaders.
For us to be instruments of God's peace, to treat all people as brothers and sisters.
“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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Joyful Ringers
Thursday, March 5 6:30 p.m.
GA Meeting
Thursday, March 5 at 7 p.m.
AA Meeting
Saturday, March 7 at 7:30 a.m.
Praise Team
Sunday, March 8 at 8:45 a.m.
Easter Choir
Sunday, March 8 following service
Praise Team Practice
Sunday, March 8 following service
Youth Group
Sunday, March 8 at 4 p.m.
Praying Stitchers
Monday, March 9 at 1:30 p.m.
GA Meeting
Tuesday, March 10 at 7 p.m.
Trustee Meeting
Wednesday, March 11 at 6 p.m.
| | Conference E-News & Newsletters | | |
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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