1 Hour Extra Sleep On Saturday Night!
Remember to turn your clocks back on Saturday night or you will be REALLY early for worship on Sunday morning.
Special Guests This Weekend
Our special guests in worship this week will be Rev. Dr. Zaki Zaki, District Superintendent of the United Methodist Church in the Chicago Northwestern District. He will be accompanied by several refugee and immigrant sisters and brothers from Iraq and Syria who will share their personal stories of Christian faith under challenging circumstances in their homelands.
Children are encouraged to participate in the worship experience. Active Family Worship Packs will be available and activity stations will also be available for children in the sanctuary. Care for the youngest children (younger than 5) will be provided : infants and toddlers in the nursery area on the Upper Level and older 3's and 4's in the Blue Room on the Lower Level. It will be a special day for all of us to gather at the Lord's Table, too. Our guests will join the Middle School and High School Youth Groups for lunch in Wesley Hall before the youth groups separate for their own activities.
All Church Advent Study - Handel & Messiah
Please join Barb Wardwell and Don Rosborough in a First Church Advent Study of Messiah, composed by G.F. Handel. Classes will begin next Sunday November 1st at 7:00 and expect to be done at 8:30. We are meeting in Hale Chapel. Child care will not be provided, but if you need, please let me know. We will begin each class with a study of Handel the man, the time period of music, and how he attained the musical stature that he now has. The next part of each class will be a study of the Scripture used in Messiah.
We will find out that Handel did not use his own libretto, but one provided by his good friend Charles Jennens. But, regardless of which Scripture is used to tell the story of our Messiah - the foretelling, the life, and the passion and the resurrection - it is the story of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, whose birthday we celebrate on Christmas. The last part of the class will be the music itself. We have arranged for some very special musicians to perform, we will listen to some parts, and perhaps even sing to our CD so if you have a score, please bring it!
All are welcome and please bring your friends and neighbors. We promise to bring you some excitement to the story of Jesus Christ as told in Messiah!
Snowbirds
Please notify Janet in the church office of your date of departure, date of return and your winter address so church records stay current. Thank you!
Advent By Candlelight
Ladies....don't forget to reserve your spot for Advent by Candlelight. The event will be on Friday, December 4th at 6 PM. Limited seats are available. Sign up on the board outside the sanctuary doors in the narthex. The deadline to sign up is Sunday, November 1st.
White Angels
This is the 21st year that First Church will be providing Christmas gifts for HIV/Aids children, teens, and their caregivers from the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. We need your help to make 2015 a success! We have 34 children, 18 teens, and 45 caregivers needing a Happy Holiday.
If you can help, please stop by the White Angel Table in the Narthex beginning Sunday, November 8th. Sign out an angel and be blessed knowing that you may be providing the only gift these children, teens, and caregivers will receive this Holiday Season.
Gifts need to be returned to a box in the Upper Narthex no later than Sunday, December 6th. Thank you!
Men's Breakfast
Men of First Church are invited to attend the November 7, breakfast meeting in Wesley Hall beginning with fellowship at 7:15, breakfast/devotions at 7:30 and program at 8:00. The program will consist of the sharing of experiences by fourteen men who participated in the recent Appalachian Service Project mission trip to Chavies, Kentucky during the week of October 11. Please bring a friend to hear the stories of our men. Any questions?
Email Jim Nelson or call
815-455-3023.
Peace Of Christ Women's Conference
November 13 - 14
Looking to find the peace of Christ in a distracting world? Join us for this two day conference here at First Church. Chrystal Evans Hurst (daughter of Dr Tony Evans) loves to encourage other women to love the Lord, love their families, and to love themselves. Learn more and sign up today at:
PeaceOfChristConference.org
Baptism Class
Sunday, November 8 at 10:45 am
Janet Yaworski - 815-459-0785 to register or for questions. Parents are required to attend three weekly worship services & a baptism class prior to having their child baptized.
New Member Orientation
Sunday, November 8
12:00 - 2:00 p.m. - Room 215
Do you have the desire to deepen your relationship with this community of faith? The two-hour orientation allows participants the opportunity to share their own expectations and consider the expectations of the larger congregation for its members. After the orientation, those who desire so will be received as members during one of the regular weekend worship services. To register call Janet Yaworski in the church office at 815-459-0785 or
email Janet.
Bible Sunday
First Church plans to celebrate Bible Sunday on November 22, 2015 at both the 9:15 Cornerstone and 10:45 Ignite worship services. Boys and girls in Kindergarten and Third grade will be gifted a Bible from our congregation. (If you have a child this age, please be sure to
email Karen Klaus, your child's name and which service you plan to attend!)
The Bibles will be available November 8th & 15th for the whole congregation to place a note or share a message of blessing, perhaps near one of your favorite passages, with each child receiving a Bible. What a wonderful way for all of our First Church family to share a special milestone moment with the children!
UMW Book Talk
Meets the second Monday of the month at 1:00 PM in the church library. The group meets Sept - May. All are welcome.
Camille King (815-404-3147) or
Penny Pelkey (815-477-2101)
Nov. 9 -
The Stone Wife by Peter Lovesey
Dec. 14 -
The House Girl: A Novel by Tara Conklin
Jan. 11 -
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Socks For Those In Need
Many of those who attend our community dinners each Sunday evening lack some of the most basic items. In the Narthex is a box for those who wish to donate winter socks, handkerchiefs, bandanas. If you wish to donate other winter items such as mittens, hats and scarfs to help those who need them, there is a donation box in Wesley Hall. These items are available to anyone in need.
Free Community Dinner
Do know someone who could use a hot meal? First Church offers a free meal each Sunday evening at 5:00 p.m. This is open to anyone. We are also looking for volunteers. 6 people are needed each week between 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. to interact with people, set up tables, help prepare meals, serve and clean-up. If you are interested in helping please
email Elyce Meador.
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