Mission TODAY
Mission TODAY Stories from the community of faith to inspire all to: Invite all into God’s family,
APRIL 2018
Grow as Followers of jesus, And Serve in his name
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I was in a meeting a few months back and someone in the meeting mentioned she would love for the church to run a series on “How we best...” with the goal to help to answer some of our biggest ethical questions as followers of Christ. Her question was specific to the person who stands at the corner by her office asking for financial help. She said something like, “If I were to give this guy $5 a day for the rest of my life, I would still have enough to live a very good life. But is that the best thing to do? I want to know!” And the “How do I best...” series was born. For the six Sundays after Easter before the annual ice cream social (Sunday April 8 through Sunday, May 13), Pastor Walters and I have organized area experts to help us navigate some of our biggest, and toughest questions as we seek to follow where Christ leads. We begin on Sunday, April 8 with the question, “How Do I Best Respond to Natural Disasters – locally and nationally?” Marie Anne Sliwinski, Program Director, Disaster Response and Sustainable Development, ELCA will be with us to help guide us. We will also ask questions of how we best support the homeless with a representative from P.A.D.S. An expert in navigating the aging process and resources for seniors will be with us another week. Other weeks experts will guide us in how we might best support those with who grieve, and another week we will dig into how we might best support those who struggle with addiction and compulsivity. (A full schedule is available on the back page of this newsletter.) My prayer is that these speakers will help with credible advice and expert guidance as we ask, “How do I best...” do what Jesus calls us to do. I am excited about this series, and think the weeks following Easter are the exact perfect times to ask “How do I best...” Easter reminds us that Jesus has given us his best, and we are called to do the same. Giving our best can be complicated, and not always easy to discern, so join us as together we ask what it looks like to give our best. See you in worship, Pastor Amy O. Aimonette
Mark your calendars for the return of the Guatemalan Coffee House to Holy Cross! On Wednesday, May 9, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. all are invited to Holy Cross Gathering Place for singing, light refreshments and coffee! It is a fun night of fellowship in support of the 2018 Holy Cross Guatemala Habitat for Humanity Team.
MISSION TODAY
A Reflection on the Women’s Retreat by Laura Piatt
The Women’s Retreat felt like it was made for me, being titled The Idol of Busyness. As a mom of two young children, a full-time Kindergarten teacher and a Sunday School teacher, busyness comes with the territory. So, sign me up, ladies. Listening to the guest speaker, Juliet Funt and having conversations with other attendees, I know I am not alone in the busy world. Juliet spoke of the thieves of productivity, personality traits taken to extremes, that are getting in our way. I know I have a need to make sure everything gets crossed off a list and I attempt to be completely prepared for tomorrow and for what’s to come. The Bible verse for the evening was, “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:34. For me, this verse, while initially could stress me out, actually calms me to live for today, this moment right now. I need to appreciate what is going on around me. Things like my daughter’s never-ending living room performances or my son’s giggles and milestones. I can prepare until I feel completely ready for tomorrow and all the while I am missing what is around me right now. To top that off, when tomorrow comes, it often doesn’t go as planned. Accepting that frees me to focus on being grateful and appreciating everything I have. It’s not easy to step back and remember to be grateful when you’re in the midst of everything, with what seems like a million balls in the air (or in the throes of an irrational exchange with a toddler). I attempt to keep my calm, take a deep breath (or 10) and remember that I will get through this. I am not alone in my life journey. Cross one thing off at a time, lessen my standards on a few things, deal with the task at hand and remind myself how amazing and how much of a gift this crazy busy life truly is.
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MISSION TODAY 3
A We Serve Recap It is truly amazing to see the amount of time, energy, and love that went into this year’s We Serve week+ of ministry! At our recent council meeting, Vicki Broberg shared these numbers from all of the incredible work that occurred. Thank you to all •
6 Thrivent Grants were approved for a total of $1500. These were used for printing as well as our ministries with Dignity for Girls, Disaster Response Hygiene kits, Sweet Cases, Build a Bike, Birthday Party in a Bag.
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196 volunteers filling 324 opportunities, including 4 volunteers from Islamic Community of Wheaton at the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
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3 speakers came this year to educate on programs, including Dignity for Girls, Build a Bike with CASA Kane County, and Birthday Party in a Bag with Humanitarian Service Project
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All of the offerings at the altar, pictured above, were delivered or picked up by Tuesday 3/13, with the exception of PADS gift bags and blankets delivered 3/19. Of course, the Lutheran World Relief quilts will be shipped on our regular schedule.
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MISSION TODAY
Adult Education Series April 8 through May 13
As followers of Christ, we are called to live the love we know from Christ, but love can be complicated! Sometimes the most loving thing to do for someone isn’t the most obvious. We have gathered area experts to help us discern answers to some of our biggest questions about ethics and how we are to love one another.
April 8:
How Do I Best Respond to Natural Disasters – locally and nationally? Presenter: Marie Anne Sliwinski, Program Director, Disaster Response and Sustainable Development, ELCA
April 15: How Do I Best Serve the Homeless? Presenter: Kathy Schank, Community Outreach Coordinator, DuPage PADS
April 22:
April 29:
May 6:
May 13:
How do I best live as a good neighbor to my Muslim brothers and sisters? Presenter: Our neighbors at the Islamic Community Center How Do I Best Support Someone Who is Grieving or Struggling with their Emotions? Presenter: Rhonda Kelloway, LCSW, SEP and member of Holy Cross! How Do I Best Care for My Aging Parents (and age well myself)? Presenter: Kerry Quirin, CDP from Senior Living Experts, Inc. How Do I Best Support Someone Struggling with Addiction and/or Compulsivity? Presenter: Michelle Rogers, LCSW, CADC and member of Holy Cross
