The fEBRUARY Messenger

Over the Pastor’s Shoulder

Settle yourself in solitude and you will come upon Him in yourself – Teresa of Avila

It is Thursday afternoon and Sunday’s sermon isn’t where it needs to be. It definitely needs a little fine-tuning, but I’m not sure when or even if I will find the time to get back to it. If I don’t get this newsletter piece done the Mantheys and Charlene will be all over me!

Even as I press to finish my article other things are vying for my attention. I look back over my shoulder and see a stack of ordination papers on the floor – 21 to be exact. I really need to read those papers. The men and women who wrote them will be interviewed next Monday and Tuesday. I owe it to them to be prepared. But before I get to those ordination papers I absolutely must prepare for Confirmation and the Inquirers Class. Then there is a wedding homily and the pastor’s Book Club to start thinking about. And no, I can’t forget that I promised four of you that I would stop by and visit this week. Nor can I forget the contacts I promised the chair of the nominating committee I would make.

I am not alone in my busy-ness am I? I am certain that we all know what it is like to be busy; to feel as if there are simply not enough hours in the day or days in the week to do all that we have committed to do.

What we might fail to realize is that our busy-ness (even if we are busy with good/important work) can eat away at our spiritual health and well-being. I know that I’ve been pushing too hard as of late; relying way too much on my own strength. I know better. I desperately need to step back and bask simply in God’s presence. That’s why I’m putting my pen down right now! I am off to a quiet place to pray…

I’m BAACCKK! I still have lots to do, but I’m not nearly as stressed or anxious about it. Finding my quiet center with God is incredibly liberating. I no longer feel enslaved to my busy-ness. Just a few unhurried moments with God can be wonderfully refreshing.

One of the things I’ve learned in my own spiritual journey is that nothing nourishes the soul and fosters spiritual health quite like time alone with God in prayer. There is, you see, a direct correlation between your spiritual well-being and the time you spend in the solitude of prayer.

So do you have a quiet place where you go to be with God and God alone? I hope so. If not, you would do well to find such a place and begin to pray there often. Your spiritual well-being depends on it.

Take good care of your heart and soul,

Pastor Jim

“If you build it, he will come.”

Some of you might recognize this quote from the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams” which starred Kevin Costner and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Picture of the Year. Over Labor Day weekend as we were driving through Iowa we decided to stop at the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, 25 miles west of Dubuque.

If you have seen the movie you would immediately recognize the baseball diamond in the middle of the corn field. Twenty years after they filmed the movie, the site looks remarkably the same. The white farm house, the lighted field and the wooden bleachers are nearly identical to how they were in the movie. The family that owns the farm has intentionally maintained the site as it was during the filming so that people could visit it. There is no admission fee and when we visited there were three different groups of people playing baseball together. The only rules that are posted is that everyone is invited onto the field to play.

If you have seen the movie you might remember that Costner’s character, Ray, is compelled to build the field so that bygone baseball legends, such as Shoeless Joe Jackson and Moonlight Graham, might return to the field. The baseball saints appear out of the cornfield to play ball on the field that Ray has constructed. Among the saints is Ray’s father, John, who was a lifelong White Sox fan, who was devastated by the 1919 Black Sox scandal. The Field of Dreams has become more than a semi-famous movie location; it has become what it was in the movie. When Ryan and I stepped on the field we joined not only those who happened to be there when we pulled into the parking lot, but also those who had played on the field during the filming of the movie, those who have played baseball there since, and those who will play baseball there in the future.

All Saints Day is November 1. In the early church it was customary to remember the martyrs of the church in worship on All Saints Sunday, the first Sunday of November. In contemporary understanding, it commemorates all Christian people of every time and place. On All Saints Sunday in many churches the names of those who have passed away during the year are read aloud, or are listed in the bulletin, as a reminder of those who have gone before. However, we shouldn’t only remember them on All Saints Day. Whenever we gather we should be mindful that we are joining our voices in worship with those who have gone before us as well as those who will come after us. Like that baseball field in a cornfield in Iowa, when we enter the Sanctuary to worship on Sunday morning there is no admission fee, and everyone is invited to join the heavenly chorus as we praise God together.

Pastor Scott

Thought to Ponder

Live in such a way that those who know you but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you.

NOVEMBER

Greeters

2 Dennis and Sharon Parney

9 Jim and Joy Gaw

16 Gloria Vitro and Virginia Fulton

23 Marge and Paula Cassady

30 Kevin McGrath and Brian Crotty

Ushers

Bob Karlson – Captain

Dick Erickson

Tom Dorl

Karen Curry

Counters

John Snow

Jim Strickland

Roger Shannon

Bruce Sladek

Nursery Schedule

2 Angela Panush, Pat Petersen

9 Linda Kozak, Phyllis Peterson

16 Michelle West, Lori Cavallone

23 Pam Polcar, Joyce Karlson

30 Dawn Hanson, Joyce Nyberg

Christmas is Coming – So Are Cards

The time has come for all Trinity members to think of Christmas cards…specifically the men’s group annual project.

Proceeds from the 2008 cards will go toward two or three worthy causes – as yet to be determined. Last year Noah’s Ark Preschool, Every Kid a Camper and P.A.D.S. were the choices.

Just fill out the enclosed Christmas card envelope and return it with your donation. You will send along your Christmas greeting to all members of Trinity. So easy. So helpful.

Please bring or mail your envelope by December 7. The men of Trinity thank you for your generosity.

November Birthdays

1 Clarence Rosengren

2 Jody Moran

2 Daniel Raines

7 Norman Nilsson

10 Charles Johnson

9 Steven McShane

11 Joe Bernat

13 Cameron Goetz

15 Rhea Maurer

17 Norma Mitchell

18 Allison Cavallone

20 Lia Costello

21 Grace Persson

22 Andrew Snow

23 Jonathan Latek

23 Diane Panush

23 Kurt Keller

28 Dennis Parney

29 Mildred Andreasen

29 Diane Manthey

30 Hazel Carlson

If we missed your birthday, please let the office know so that it will be listed in the future.

Adult Sunday School

Dr. Timothy (Yak) Johnson, Associate Professor of Ministry and Director of Field Education at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, will be leading our adult Sunday school class during the month of November. He will be discussing ”Touchstones in Covenant History”.

Sunday Service Flower Sign-up

A new Altar Flower sign-up sheet will be available starting in November for you to select dates for 2009. The flowers are $40. Checks should be made out to Trinity Covenant Church with “Sunday Flowers” noted in the memo section of your check. Seasonal flowers are chosen unless you have requested something specific.

Jul Fest

Saturday, December 6, 2008

10:15 A.M. – Door open for Craft Shopping

11:00 A.M. – December Dazzle

12 noon – Swedish Smorgasbord

Women: $15

Girls age 5-12: $5

Girls under age 5 – free

Contact Rhea Maurer for Tickets at 388-6457

I want to thank my dear friends at Trinity for the prayers, calls and cards during my recent “adventure”. I am now a member of the Pacemakers’ Club. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated.

Bruce Sladek

I want to extend a big thank you to my Trinity friends for the sympathy cards I received for the death of my son, Dale Peterson, on September 18, in Arkansas. They were very much appreciated and gave me a great deal of comfort. Thank you and God bless.

Marge Oberg

It was so nice of all of you to send the lovely flowers and the many cards. We’ve barely gotten to know each other, yet you’ve shown your love and concern. God bless you.

Betty Aardema

Pryme Tymers

The group will meet only once this month on November 13, at 11 A.M. to hear Lt. Josh Polanco from the Mount Greenwood Salvation Army. A program of music, testimonies, and information about the Army’s programs in the area and across the country will help us get ready for the Thanksgiving season.

The luncheon entrée will be turkey and dressing.

Church Chuckle

There’s a time in your life when even your birthday suit needs pressing.

-Bob Hope

Women’s Tuesday Bible Study

Among the many powerful blessings promised and received is the knowledge of what will happen one minute after we die. A strange topic for study to take center court during this Thanksgiving month yet, during these four weeks we will be so blessed with learning what has been prepared for us that unbounded thanks will ring out and be etched in our “times to look forward to” memory bank.

During our October study we were reintroduced to the three strands of evidence which reinforce the position that Jesus is God Himself. Strand one concerned His actions; Strand two concerned His promises and Strand three His claims. Three strands which set Jesus apart from other men. So, this month we celebrate these strands, all kingdom gifts, all handcrafted by Him and turn our understanding to the gift of eternal life.

Our references will be many including The Book of the Revelation; How To Be Born Again by Billy Graham; The Minute After You Die and Your Eternal Rewards by Erwin Lutzer; Letters from the Apostle Paul with selected verses from Ephesians, Romans and Philippians.

To introduce our study we have already received scriptural answers to several questions by reading Life Principal Notes by Charles Stanley concerning “Does God Give a Second Chance After Death” and viewing his video on the same misinterpretation. Answer: Born once–die twice, born twice–die once.

If this topic and study perks your thinking and sparks similar questions requiring answers, join us for enlightenment on the providence of God and how and why His hand encompasses the whole of our lives. And if we seem to know all the answers even this is not a given as we all stand in the need to be constantly nourished and strengthened.

Fireside Room – Tuesdays – 9:30 A.M.

Barbara Johnson

Being a Christian is like Being a Pumpkin!

God lifts you up, takes you in and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff—including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

TMY Trinity Ministry to Youth

One, two, three strikes, a Turkey!

Students in 7^th- 12^th grade are invited to go bowling on Sunday, November 9. We will meet at the church at 1:30 P.M. and will return at 4:30 P.M. Bring $10 for bowling and shoe rental. Bring additional money if you’d like to buy a snack. We will be bowling at BrunswickZone Bowling at 103^rd Street in Oak Lawn. Please e-mail or call Pastor Scott (intern@trinitycovoaklawn.org) or 708-422-5111 by November 4 to let him know you are coming and be sure to invite a friend.

Check out pictures from previous the TMY event on the Youth Bulletin Board in the church hallway.

New Babies!

Congratulations to Vince and Kathy Costello on the birth of their son, Benjamin William, who was born on October 5. He weighed in at 7 pounds, 6 ounces; 19 ½ inches long. He joins his older sisters, Emily and Lia.

Congratulations to Steve and Alisa Sladek on the birth of their son, Caleb Casidy, who was born on October 6. He weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces; 20 inches long. He joins siblings Simon, Jesse and Ethan. Grandparents are David and Arlene Sladek. Great grandparents include Rondie Sladek, Bruce and Char Dunk Sladek.

Congratulations to Kevin and Natasha Bakker on the birth of their daughter, Riely Mae, who was born October 13. She weighed in at a hefty 10 pounds, 2 ounces. Grandparents are Karen and Jack Curry. Great grandparents are Roy and Joanne Anderson.

Give God what’s RIGHT – not what’s LEFT.

Way To Go!

Steven McShane was recognized on October 28 by the Manteno Board of Education. He and two other students have been selected out of all elementary and high school students in Manteno’s school district for highest academic achievement within the district.

He also will be taken downstate for the scholastic bowl in competition with the best of each district’s 5^th grade student throughout the state. We are very proud of him and these accomplishments.

Events at Covenant Harbor

Welcome Advent (adult retreat) Nov. 9-12

The Cookie Workshop Dec. 4, 7

Christmas Dinner and Concert Dec. 5, 6

Enjoy a candlelight dinner and an evening of holiday music by Sterling & Brass, the Lake Country Brass Quintet with vocals by Jean Marie Wenzel. Chef-carved prime rib, chicken, potato, vegetable and fantastic desserts! $35 per person.

Overnight packages available, stay in Geneva Bay Centre: Dinner + Overnight Lodging + Breakfast $165 per person double occupancy or $120 per person single occupancy.

Things to Remember

· The PADS Collection is ongoing. Items needed are new socks, new underwear and small toiletries. Used coats also will be accepted.

· CD’s of the worship service are available. The cost of $2 per CD. Fill out a form in the office or call for more information.

· Don’t forget we are still collecting canned goods and other items for the Salvation Army food pantry.

SAVE THE DATE

December 21, 2008

5:00 P.M.

Christmas Concert and Carol Sing-a-long

Devon Hollingsworth, organist

A buffet dinner catered from Chi-Tung will follow. Watch for additional details in the December Messenger.

Christmas Pageant

Parents and children are invited to attend a 15-minute informational meeting about this year’s Children’s Christmas Program on Sunday November 23, immediately following the morning worship service. The rehearsal schedule is:

Sunday, November 30 – 12 noon

Sunday, December 7 – 12 noon

Saturday, December 13 – 10 A.M. to 12 noon

Sunday, December 14 – Program at 4 P.M.

From Where I Sit

I have for a long time enjoyed the offbeat humor of Steven Wright, a comic who speaks of normal things in abnormal ways. One of my favorite Wright-isms is this one:

The reason God made time is so that everything doesn’t happen all at once.

If it did, this month’s article would be easier to compose. The election would be over, and we would know who had won. But instead I type away in mid-October for a November newsletter, which you may be reading prior to the close of the campaigning. That being the case, I can’t implore you to study the issues and the candidates, make wise decisions based on the positions you hold as important, and be sure to vote. It is too late for me to do that, but it is not too soon for me pray for those whom we have elected.

That holds true whether my choices have won or lost. It’s one of the most gratifying things about this country, that it has, indeed, been blessed by God. But that was also true of the Hebrew nation in first testament times. They were God’s chosen people, He blessed them, and He also judged them. So too will the citizens of this nation be judged, and with us our nation. I think it is wonderful that for the first time we will have elected a person of color president, or a woman vice-president. This would have been virtually unthinkable when my parents were my age, and illegal some places when my grandparents were. In fact, I’m not sure my grandmother could even vote when she turned 21. We have indeed come a long way.

Sadly though, we have traveled a great distance in other ways too. Our greed and selfishness, coupled with questionable bits of legislation, have wrought havoc on our economy, threatening retirements and even our daily life. In our effort to honor the Constitutional mandate prohibiting establishing a state religion, we appear to have marginalized religion.

We make great medical strides, but some of them seem to be on the verge of devaluing some human life. Some people spend thousands on elective procedures, while others can’t afford the medications that must have to survive. For too many people, the decision whether or not to have important treatment is based on whether or not their insurance covers it. And hospitals close because Medicare and Medicaid payments are so slow in arriving.

This is a wonderful country, and for the most part we elected basically decent people to political office. But they are human beings, just like us. They need guidance from God, just like us. And they need prayer, just like us. Whether “your guy” won the election or not, be sure to pray for the person who did. This is your country, and this is your responsibility.

Dave Noren

Smiling

Smiling is infectious

you catch it like the flu

When someone smiled at me today

I started smiling too

I passed around the corner

and someone saw my grin –

When he smiled, I realized

I’d passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile

then realized it’s worth,

a single smile, just like mine

could travel around the earth

So if you feel a smile begin,

don’t leave it undetected –

Let’s start an epidemic quick

and get the world infected.

Author unknown