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The Ordination of Roger Dart



These articles are of interest to members of the church or to those who would like to know more about the past events of our church.  Click on the headlines below to read up on church news.   The Sunday Signup under the CCID Insider pages will give you the volunteer schedule for the month and the Events Calendar will give you dates of events; go to the This Month/Happenings page to get more information of interesting happenings.

PREVIOUS ARTICLES:

  1. Once Upon A Church...
  2. All Church Retreat, January 26
  3. The Parsonage Story
  4. Trustees Report   - 2007
  5. The New Piano!
  6. Communication Survey Report
  7. Directory Corrections
  8. From the Minister's Annual Report
  9. Note to Ligurgists
  10. Congregational Meeting on April 22 report
  11. Remembering Cecil Allan Cavanah
  12. The Dedication of the Usry Stained Glass Windows
  13. We Remember 9/11
  14. Can I hear a witness from Blair Hull..
  15. Can I Hear a Witness from Craig Carlson..
  16.  A Message from our Minister
  17. Report on the "Looking Forward" Workshop
  18.  Congregational Meetings Information

Updated 4/5/2008





The Parsonage Story:  
The End of One Era, the Beginning of Another

Even before our church was built, the Congregation purchased a house at 26 Forestway in Deerfield to serve as its parsonage. It was part of a new subdivision called Deerfield Park and was a two story colonial home with three bedrooms, two and a half baths, a full partially finished basement and a one-car garage.  

Both of our church’s pastors lived there, Rev. John Usry from 1960 to 1994 and Rev. Blair Hull from 1995 to 2007.  Forestway is a very nice street and the parsonage was a happy house full of children and pets and more recently a very impressive vegetable/herb garden with lovely flowers.  Many meetings were held at the parsonage over the years resulting in pleasant memories for many of our church members.  

Increasingly the parsonage needed maintenance as any 45+-year-old home would.  In June 2006 I appointed a special Parsonage Task Force to look into all the possibilities for providing a home for our pastor. After many long meetings and much research over several months, the Task Force recommended that the parsonage be sold and that the pastor be paid a housing allowance.

This decision was reviewed in a special Congregational Workshop held on January 27, 2007.   Attendees agreed with the assessment of the Parsonage Task Force.   At a Congregational Meeting on February 25, 2007, our congregation voted to sell the parsonage and to pay the pastor a housing allowance.  The house was officially put on the market on March 1, 2007 and was sold on December 20, 2007.  

As per the agreement with the Congregation, proceeds of the sale will be used to pay a housing allowance, provide an interest-free loan to the pastor for purchasing a home of her own, for church repairs and programs for the renewal and revitalizing of the church.

Our Treasurer, Ann Soutter and the Trustees are currently looking into the best ways to invest the proceeds of the sale for maximum return.  A Congregational Retreat, open to everyone, has been scheduled for January 26, 2008 to look at various options for the future of the church.  Please come!

A full report will be given to the congregation at an upcoming Congregational Meeting.

Sarah Long, Moderator

Parsonage Report - November 2007

A special Parsonage Task Force met eight times between June 2006 and January 2007. The Taskforce had been charged to look at the issues surrounding providing housing for our pastor.  All possible options were considered including building a new parsonage. At issue was the fact that the existing parsonage at 26 Forestway Drive in Deerfield was requiring more and more maintenance. We had neither the money nor the expertise among our members to keep up with it.

As part of our research we discovered that providing a parsonage was a rather old fashioned approach to housing the pastor.  More enlightened congregations were proving a housing allowance because it allows the pastor more flexible living arrangements and supports building equity in a home of her/his own.

In January 2007 the Parsonage Task Force held a Congregational Workshop to review all the options that had been considered.  In the end the fourteen persons attending agreed with Taskforce members that it was time to sell the parsonage and provide a housing allowance for our pastor.  It was also agreed that the proceeds of the sale would be invested and would be used to provide the housing allowance as well as an interest free loan to the pastor so that she could purchase a home of her own.  It was envisioned that a small portion of the proceeds would also be used to fund needed church repairs.  This proposal was presented and approved at a Congregational Meeting on February 25, 2007.

In March 2007 the parsonage was listed by realtors Koenig & Strey GMAC and was advertised and marketing all spring and summer.  During this period the housing market began to slow down.  Happily, in October we received an offer and after some negotiations agreed on terms. The house is being purchased “as is” but we are not realizing as large a profit as we had hoped for. 

After the closing scheduled for December 20, 2007, our church will enter a new era.  Our pastor will be able to buy her own home and we will have a little money in the bank to help us refocus our church and its ministry.

A Church Retreat has been scheduled for January 26, 2008. Everyone is not only welcome but also encouraged to attend.  More details on this exciting planning opportunity will be forthcoming.

In the meantime, we should be thinking and reflecting and praying.
 
•    What do we want of our church for our families and ourselves?
•    What do we want our church to do for others?
•    How do we want our church to serve the wider community?

In the Congregational Church, every voice is important and every voice is heard.  Plan to spend the day with us on Saturday, January 26, 2008 for the beginning of this exciting adventure.

Sarah Long, Moderator


Change of Address

Good news!  The parsonage has been sold.  The closing is December 20 and Cecil and I will begin moving some things starting December 1.  Our movers will come December 14.

The reason for the delay is because last July Cecil and I planned a trip to Puerto Rico to attend a wedding. So, in the midst of this moving chaos, we will be out of town December 7-11. My son James will be at the parsonage with our dogs and he will look after the house while we are in Puerto Rico.

Susan Martersteck will preach for me on December 9. Harriet has offered to preach December 16 to take some of the pressure off moving -- thanks to both of you!

We will be renting for 6-7 months and our temporary address - as of December 14 - will be 35 Salem Lane, Evanston, IL 60203. Some of you have offered to help move us but we are well on our way already. Since much of what we have is going into storage it would be very hard to have volunteers make those decisions.  Kate, James and Riley have, of course, been working with us and know a bit more about what we want to store and where it should go. They have been very helpful.

Christmas Cards are almost ready to mail and will include our official change of address announcement… and another card will be sent this summer when we find a more permanent home.

Blessings to all of you and thanks for your prayers,

Blair


Trustees

One of the side effects of Blair not living at the parsonage is that she will be spending more time in an office area at the church.   We need to make her church office as comfortable and efficient as possible.   Her present office next to the Extraordinary Kids classroom will be too noisy and filled with distractions.   We think this is a good opportunity to re-think our space requirements at the church; we need to re-design the office spaces that are needed.

We are open to suggestions but we do have some initial ideas.   We'd like to use part of the choir room as Blair's new office, and free up her old office to be used as a library and classroom.   In addition, we are looking into economical ways to provide phone and broadband Internet service to the choir room.  Internet capability at the church would be useful for members of many of our committees.   These changes will require some rearrangement of the furniture as well as the need for some additional furniture pieces.  Once we have decided what we need, we will ask for donations of spare furniture that you may have to give us. 

Thank you.
  
Carl Ekins, Chairperson (630-351-4760)
Martha Perritt, Ann Soutter, Roger Dart

 


Wonderful House for Sale

October 2007

The story is told that Theresa of Avila, a nun in the 16th century, prayed to St. Joseph to help secure land for a convent.  According to the story, she encouraged the Sisters to bury St. Joseph medals in the ground as a symbol of their devotion. The ritual is said to have worked.
Why St. Joseph? As a carpenter, husband of the Virgin Mary and Jesus’ earthly father, St. Joseph is regarded as the patron saint of home, family and laborers.  St. Joseph was a natural when Theresa of Avila needed some help. 


Many people have found that burying a statue of St. Joseph in the yard of house that is for sale provides a bit of a miracle when that quick sale has failed to materialize.   The practice has become so widespread that St. Joseph kits are now available complete with small statue and burial bag, directions for “planting” and a prayer. 


Miraculous stories abound among realtors and on the Internet of houses that have been on the market for years, finally sold with the help of St. Joseph.


While ours is not a Catholic church, we do have our parsonage for sale.  I happened to see a St. Joseph kit at my local hardware store and it was only $5.00.  Let’s cover all the angles, I thought.  So, just for good measure, I bought two.  Blair has agreed to position both St. Josephs according to directions on the grounds of the parsonage.  Cross your fingers, say a prayer and hope earnestly that our parsonage sells, sooner rather than later. 


Sarah Long, Moderator

August 10, 2007
“Original owner home with happy vibes.  Newer oak kitchen, updated baths, newer furnace and central air, new washer and dryer.  Organic vegetable garden, flowering trees and roses. Three bedrooms and 2.5 baths, $439,000” 

This is the advertisement for our Parsonage. We’re the mentioned “original owners.”  And it is a home with happy vibes.  The price is a real bargain for Deerfield where almost every graduating senior goes to college.  Don’t keep this house a secret. Tell your friends and let’s get this house sold soon!
Parsonage Update, June 25, 2007

In February, our congregation agreed with the recommendation of a special task force that we should sell the Parsonage at 26 Forestway, Deerfield.  

Since then our realtor, Eileen Campbell with Koenig and Strey, GMAC, has hosted several broker open houses and several general open houses. The Parsonage has been advertised in a number of venues including Chicago Tribune, Deerfield Review, Highland Park News, Your Place North (Tribune).  Photos are posted on the following websites: MAPmls.com, mlsni.net, ksgmac.com, and Realtor.com.  Information is also available on chicagotribune.com. 
 
The house has been shown a number of times to individuals, but unfortunately we have not had any offers.  In fact, recently we saw a general decline in interest as buyers had seen the home and rejected it.  The competition is stiff.  There are some 61 other properties for sale in Deerfield priced between 350,000 and 500,000.  Unfortunately, not much is moving. 

Considering our situation, the Coordinating Council decided to reduce the price to bring in new buyers from a new price range. We reduced the price from $459,000 to $439,000 a week ago and it is just now having the desired effect with increased showings.  We are hopeful that this will encourage even more traffic through the house and a quick sale.

In other news, we had requested that the mortgage held by the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ be moved from the Parsonage to the Church property.  Illinois Conference officials have agreed to this pending our working out the details.

If you have questions or concerns about the Parsonage sale, contact Sarah Long, Moderator


The Congregation Meeting on the Parsonage, Sunday February 25

On February 25, 2007 our congregation decided to sell the parsonage as part of a plan to help the financial status of the church.  An additional part of this plan was for the Church Coordinating Council to write a proposal to the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, requesting that the $50,000 mortgage on the parsonage be transferred to the church.  Excerpts from this letter are below.  We now await a response from the Illinois Conference.

“To the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ:

“….SELLING THE PARSONAGE

“As a congregation we feel God’s presence among us. We are a congregation with a mission and we have the responsibility to put all of our resources toward Christ's ministry. A special Parsonage Taskforce was created in July 2006 and met eight times over the next thee months.  Charged with looking into all aspects of providing a home for our pastor, taskforce members got estimates on needed parsonage repairs, considered building a new parsonage, but finally concluded that a housing allowance was the most equitable way to compensate our pastor. 

“By selling the parsonage and investing the proceeds, we can pay a housing allowance for an extended period of time and begin to refit our church for our new community role.

“REQUEST

“We earnestly request that the Illinois Conference move the $50,000 mortgage from the church parsonage at 26 Forestway, Deerfield, IL 60015 to the church property at 225 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, IL 60015.  We believe that this action is in the best interest of the Illinois Conference and of our church. 

“For our church this action will allow us to continue with the plan God has outlined for us—to be relevant in the 21st century. 

“For the conference, these monies were given to us to establish our church.  They are needed now as we reestablish our church in the 21st century. Our church is a model for earnestly discerning God’s purpose for us individually and collectively at a time when the old models of “church” simply are not working.  The Congregational Church in Deerfield is a vibrant and creative and essential voice in the United Church of Christ. We are a church on a mission of relevancy.  Our church was a good investment for the Board of Homeland Ministries in l960 because we were in a growing area geographically.   We are an even better investment for the Illinois Conference in 2007 because we are creating a new model at a time when the old models have become ineffective.
.
“We trust that you will honor the process that we have undertaken over these last 16 months as we have sought and prayerfully found Christ’s mission for our church in the 21st century. Please might we expeditiously agree to this change in paperwork?  The parsonage is now on the market and we would like to have this cleared up so that its sale will not be encumbered by the note.

 “Sarah Ann Long, Moderator”


Congregational Workshop to Review Parsonage Taskforce Research
                                        Saturday, January 27, 2007
                                                          Notes
PERSONS PRESENT: Martha Perritt, Carl Ekins, Roger Dart, Ann Soutter, Lee Hardt, Sarah Long, Rev. Blair Hull, Catherine Reed, Carol Mellem, Ed Johnson, Don Sager, Chris Martersteck, Doug Soutter, Cecil Curtwright.

BACKGROUND:  Sarah Long said that the Parsonage Taskforce had met eight times between June and January.  The group consisting of Carl Ekins, Martha Perritt, Roger Dart, Don Sager, Rev. Blair Hull and herself had initially brainstormed a long list of possible ways to provide housing for the pastor.  In subsequent meetings, members of the taskforce volunteered for research that was reported at the next meeting.  The purpose of today’s meeting is to share the research and to get feedback from those attending regarding next steps.

PRESENTATIONS: 
•    Needed Parsonage Maintenance.  Roger Dart said that immediate issues needing attention would cost between $300 and $1,000.  Major issues needing attention would cost between $70,000 and $90,000.  These figures are based on estimates received from several local companies.  Money to finance repairs could come from borrowing or from a reverse mortgage.  Given current budget constraints, both approaches did not seem tenable.
•    Sell Parsonage and/or Church:  Carl Elkins and Don Sager reported that the parsonage could probably be sold for something between $400,000 and $500,000.  The church property could probably be sold for around $2,000,000.  Earlier it seemed that the church property could be partitioned and lots sold.  Because of covenants in our subdivision, rezoning of “flag lots” (which is what we would be selling) is extremely problematic.  There is not enough property for a cul-de-sac.  Relocation issues include:  lack of sufficient capital to buy property and a building that would be in better condition and located conveniently for members.
•    Housing Allowance:  Martha Perritt researched housing allowances for UCC pastors.  Guidelines suggest 1% per month of the cost of a median priced home in the church community.  While this yielded a figure of almost $75,000 per year, it was felt that negotiation was possible.  In discussion, it was noted that very few local churches offer a parsonage.  It is considered an arcane practice especially detrimental to the pastor. 
•    Merger. Sarah Long said that the group had briefly considered a merger, but that there was not any interest in this approach at this time.

CONSIDERATIONS:
•    Ed Johnson suggested that an itemized history of parsonage repairs and their costs be compiled for insight both into what has been spent and also what might be spent on a housing allowance.
•    Doug Soutter suggested that the housing allowance be based on payments for a 30-year loan.
•    Doug Soutter suggested that the housing allowance be based on local home rental figures.
•    Ed Johnson suggested that the housing allowance be based on the interest to be earned from the proceeds of the sale of the parsonage.
•    It was noted that if we give our pastor a housing allowance, she might not live as close to the church and that her home might not be as open and available to the congregation for meetings, etc. 

CONCLUSIONS:
•    There was a general consensus to sell the parsonage and use the proceeds to provide an interest free loan and a housing allowance to the pastor.
•    Some attendees wanted to spend some of the proceeds from the sale of the parsonage on needed church repairs.
•    It was noted that previous years' utility costs could be “saved” by offering a housing allowance.

NEXT STEPS:
•    The next step will be to bring this general consensus to the Coordinating Council, which is scheduled to meet on 1-28-07 with a recommendation to schedule a Congregational meeting as soon as possible.
•    At the Congregational meeting, ask for agreement to put the parsonage on the market.
•    Consider subsequent issues, such as renegotiating a new employment contract with the pastor to include a housing allowance, etc.  These will be considered in an orderly fashion as the sale of the parsonage proceeds.

ADJOURNMENT:  The meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.


Reports from the last three months (last to first)

October 2006

Last month we discussed the feasibility of selling either the parsonage or the parking area behind the church to generate enough money to construct a new parsonage and/or to upgrade the church. Given the growth in the value of land in Deerfield, the Task Force believed this merited some research.

First of all, a through assessment of the parsonage revealed that it would cost approximately $70,000 to correct all of its deficiencies. Selling the parsonage might yield $400,000 to $500,000, based on recent listings of homes near the parsonage. At the present time, there are four homes for sale within a block of the parsonage. All are priced in the range of $400,000 to $500,000.

If the parsonage could be sold, based on UCC guidelines, the congregation would need to either provide the pastor with a housing allowance in addition to her salary, or the congregation would need to purchase another home to replace the present parsonage. In addition, the Task Force found that there is a $50,000 mortgage on the parsonage that would be due the UCC if the parsonage were sold.

The Task Force contacted two developers to see if they might have some interest in purchasing the parking area behind the church and constructing two or three homes on the land. This would require construction of a parking lot at the front of the church on Wilmot. One of the developers was interested and other was not. Discussions with the interested developer raised some questions regarding whether the Village would approve construction at the rear of the church lot.

A meeting with the staff of the Village Development Department revealed that the Village would be opposed to construction on the lot to the rear of the church. Presently, further discussions are under consideration between the Village, the developer and the Task Force. The Task Force will report on the outcome in the next issue of Happenings.


 

September 2006
Last month I described the role and purpose of a new special taskforce. In summary, the taskforce is researching the need for repairs and improvements in the church and parsonage. If further expenditures are required, the taskforce will be making recommendations to the congregation later this fall. While the congregation does not currently have significant liquid financial reserves, it does own some valuable real estate. In this column we will review several options the taskforce is researching involving its properties. We have also included some information on trends in the UCC relative to parsonages.

First of all, the church owns approximately two acres at 225 Wilmot Road, in addition to the parsonage on Forestway. At one time, the congregation's property extended from the unpaved portion of the parking lot through to Rosewood. This lot was sold approximately thirteen years ago, and the buyers constructed a new home on it.

The congregation used the funds from the sale of the property to make some needed repairs to the church, and provide some retirement benefits to the former pastor. The balance of the funds were placed in a reserve account, and used to offer programs and services to build membership and pledge commitments, and cope with major repairs such as replacement of the church roof. The last of these reserve funds were expended on that major project.

Because property values in Deerfield have risen considerably in the past ten years, vacant land is in short supply. Despite this limitation, developers have learned they can make a profit by tearing down older and more modest housing, and replacing them with larger and more expensive homes. While the congregation is blessed with property that has appreciated in value, the taskforce is certainly aware that the sale of some of this property could limit future growth in membership. One of the questions the taskforce will need to consider is whether significant further growth in membership is likely to occur. While new families have joined, this has been offset by retirements and relocations. As a result, the congregation has not increased in size during the past several years. Despite this, hope remains that new activities such as the Stained Glass Coffeehouse will be successful in attracting new members.
 
The taskforce is considering several alternatives relative to its properties. One option would be to construct a landscaped parking lot on the property in front of the church, and to sell some or all of the land behind the church. This property might be sufficient for 2-3 homes, depending upon village building requirements and home design. Another alternative might be to sell the parsonage, and use the proceeds to construct a new parsonage on one of the lots behind the church. 

In evaluating the future of the parsonage, the taskforce has learned that the trend among UCC churches is to offer the pastor a housing allowance, and often a down payment. One of the primary reasons why this trend is occurring is that many new pastors want to build equity in their own home. Building equity in a home is usually among the major goals of the average American family. Living in a parsonage usually means that a pastor gains no equity that could be used to supplement retirement. If a pastor should retire or have the misfortune of being fired, she loses both a home and salary.

There are pros and cons to selling the parsonage. As an investment, it has certainly appreciated in value. The major benefit the congregation receives in offering a housing allowance to its pastor is the elimination of future utilities, maintenance, and repairs on the parsonage. There is also value in being able to provide its pastor with salary and benefits comparable to other congregations similar in size to Deerfield. Based on information from the UCC on salaries, allowances, and other benefits, a pastor's housing allowance is determined by local property values. The taskforce has not calculated the cost of a housing allowance based on Deerfield property as yet, but it is certain to be more than the cost of providing a parsonage for the pastor.

If the congregation decides to keep the parsonage, it will require some significant repairs. The taskforce is in process of determining the cost of these repairs. If the house were purchased as a tear-down, that expense would be eliminated. Retaining the parsonage doesn't solve the need for the pastor to build equity in a home of her own to supplement her retirement funds. There is also the possibility that the pastor could not afford to live in Deerfield, even with a housing allowance. She may have to move to another community, reducing her availability. Although a housing allowance allows the pastor to build equity in a home, it also shifts the cost of maintaining the home entirely to the pastor.

In closing, the growth in the value of the parsonage and the Wilmot property offers the congregation an opportunity to address many of the problems the church has experienced. Further study of other alternative solutions will appear in next month's Happenings. 

August 2006

 
The purpose of this brief column over the next several months is to keep the congregation and our friends informed of some of the plans and alternatives under consideration for the church and the parsonage. As in the past, the board of trustees has primary responsibility for maintenance and building improvements in the church building and parsonage.  A new special taskforce to look at issues surrounding the parsonage has been created to consider alternatives and make recommendations to the congregation.  Members of the taskforce are Roger Dart, Carl Ekins, Sarah Long, Martha Perritt, and myself, Don Sager.  Rev. Blair Hull also meets with the taskforce.  We have set ourselves a goal of mid-September for preliminary recommendations. 

 Currently the taskforce is identifying needed repairs, considering programmatic changes that may have an impact on the building, noting changes in the community, and trends in the UCC, looking into estimated costs and alternatives, revenue diversification, and reviewing a variety of alternatives. 

Because our congregation is small, some may question why this planning and assessment is needed. After all, changes we will be considering may be quite expensive. Our church has never had a large endowment, and I believe that many of our members may consider themselves to be of modest means. In fact, our church does have significant financial resources, and this will be discussed in future columns. More important, the congregation has many talented members and a resourceful pastor. This is the time to draw upon these resources, so we can better serve the future Deerfield and its surrounding area. We have also had the assistance of many other committees and volunteers during the past several years that will provide a strong foundation. We will also be discussing these in future columns.
 
I'd like to step back in history for a brief moment. Next time you enter the church, look at the dedication plaque mounted on the wall to the right of the doors. Although the plaque proudly states that the church was dedicated in 1965, Roger Dart informed me that the church was not fully open for duty until 1966. Whether you accept 1965 or 1966, the church building has felt the passage of time. Coping with 41 winters, and thousands of footsteps, large and small, the original floor is beginning to show its age (except for new carpeting in the sanctuary, donated by members of the congregation).

A lot has happened to our church and our world since the doors were opened. Interestingly, the United Nations dedicated 1965 to international cooperation. The Palestinian al-Fatah organization was founded. Dr. Martin Luther King launched a national drive to register black voters. "Broadway Joe" Namath signed with the Jets that year. LBJ launched his "Great Society" and started Medicare. US marines invaded the Dominican Republic. In Congress that year, Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen failed in his effort to make the marigold the national flower.   In religion, Pope Paul VI & Orthodox Patriarch Athenagoras I celebrated Christmas by simultaneously lifting the mutual excommunications that led to the split of the 2 churches in 1054.   During 1965, the world mourned the passing of Winston Churchill. The Beatles invaded the USA, and the first US combat forces arrived in Vietnam. Race riots erupted in Watts and the West Side of Chicago. Nobel Prize winner Albert Schweitzer died.

I want to close this first column by noting that a lot has happened since the doors of our small church were first opened. Some was good. Some was bad. Some was joyful. Some of it was sad. Our church has been a silent witness at countless weddings. It has brought comfort at numerous memorial services. It introduced our children to the lessons of the Bible. It has strengthened us when we have lost loved ones, sustained us through war, riot, and storm. Yes, it is a small church, but that little church has always been there to offer comfort when it was needed.

Don Sager

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SUNDAY SERMON TITLES AND LECTIONARY READINGS

•    May 4        Community of Prayer           
Acts 1:6-14; Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35; 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11; John 17:1-11

•    May 11        Life-giving Spirit  
Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13; John 20:19-23

•    May 18        Creation Continues       
Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20

•    May 25        Seeking God’s Way   
Isaiah 49:8-16a; Psalm 131; I Corinthians 4:1-5; Matthew 6:24-34



 



  May Birthdays:  

May 2 – Chris Martersteck   
May 2 – Barbara Trautlein  
May 8 – Ed Johnson   
May 13 – Laura Carlson   
May 15 – Martha Perritt   
May 20 – David Anstett   
May 20 – Zachary Cushing   
May 20 – Sarah Long   
May 27 – Ann Soutter   
May 31 – Lisa Cushing   


  May Anniversaries:

May 14 -- Wywialowski / Sheber
May 23 -- Long / Sager
May 27 -- Ekins


                                                     
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From the Minister’s Annual Report

What a year it has been. I think we have gone to new places as well as experienced old disappointments. We have managed existing challenges and anticipated new ones. But still in all we are the same welcoming and loving church community we have been in the 12 years I have been your pastor.  For that I am both grateful and proud. We are the Congregational Church in Deerfield, UCC – and all who come here are welcome here. (I would like to change our name to the Church of the Extravagant Welcome, UCC, but that is for another year and another annual report.)

For me there have been two extraordinary things to report as spectacular occurrences in this year. First, is that the Stained Glass Coffeehouse, started in September of 2006, is, by all accounts, a glorious success. While we haven’t raised as much money for Heifer International I had hoped, we have broken even and paid our coffeehouse expenses with a little left over. With the Stained Glass Coffeehouse we are providing a venue for professional musicians to play and a wonderful listening room for our friends and neighbors to enjoy folk music of the highest quality. Friends of Warren and Cynthia, after telling me they attend another Deerfield church, thanked us warmly for providing such a wonderful service to our community, “We’ll be back, and thanks again.”

The next equally as wonderful event was when we took in seven new members and their children as part of our church community. I am always thrilled to see our church grow, especially with people as lovely as these! Each new member brings with him or her, a new life and a new energy that is good for us all. New people help us to think in new ways and not get stuck in our sameness. With the addition of each new person, we are blessed in many ways, many, many times over. 

As we look forward to the future, I encourage all of you to bring friends and neighbors to church, and for you to consider attending regularly. Our church depends on each of you to be the holy ground of God; we can’t think someone else is going to do it for us, so we don’t have to.

Without you we do not have a church, only a building—for us to move on into the future we need to grow, to bring new people to this wonderful place where welcome is the bottom line – the rest is important too, worship, participation, teaching and learning, sharing and being part of each other’s lives. All this is essential…but we need more of us and this responsibility falls squarely on each of one who loves this church and wants to share her with others—as well as enjoy her for ourselves.

I know you think you have done all you can – but maybe at a bake sale, coffeehouse, on the web site, with your circle of friends, or in the grocery store you might find people who might just like to join us in worship. I hope so, for it is you who are the church – and the church depends on you, her people, to build her up in these days ahead.
On a personal note, this year has been one of illness, surgery and recovery for both Cecil and me. Thanks so much for helping us during these tough times. We both appreciate your love and care.

Blessings to you,

Rev. Blair Hull,
Easter Sunday 2007

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Christian Education
As we move into a summertime schedule, I want to thank those who have helped with the Sunday School program during the year: Marti Anstett, Roger Dart, Maria Ekins, Carl Ekins, Jim Franke, Sarah Guillen, and Ann Soutter.  Sarah Long, Carol Mellem, and Ann Soutter championed our Christmas Pageant.  Megan Wheeler, Adam and Paul Martersteck, and Alex Boyijian provided nursery care.  Thanks to each of you who said, “I can do it” when asked to help out.

Christian Education invites people into the life of the church and provides a foundation for living a Christian life.  Some of our teachers were busy with other academic pursuits.   Jenay, Kate, and Sarah each have their degrees with an emphasis in Education.  Congratulations to our graduates this year and to all our hardworking students and teachers.

    Jenay Gordon                 Master of Arts            Art Institute of Chicago
    Kate Hull                        Bachelor of Arts         Northeastern Illinois University
    Sarah Guillen                  Bachelor of Arts         National Louis University
    Paul Martersteck             Deerfield High School
    Adam Martersteck           Deerfield High School

And don’t forget to bring non-perishable items for the West Deerfield Township Food Pantry this Sunday, June 3.   This is a project organized by our church school; the food will be delivered to the pantry by Three Guys and a Truck that day.

Harriet Dart


 

 

 



A Note to Liturgists

 


The Common Lectionary is a prescribed list of readings for each week of the year which many mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic churches follow.  Over a period of three years, the important stories and readings of the Bible are read, and then the cycle repeats itself.  Our church school curriculum uses this for its Bible stories.The New Revised Standard Version Holy Bible in the sanctuary is in the process of being rebound.  The Revised Standard Version Bible (which was donated when the church building was dedicated) has been brought back to the sanctuary to be used by the liturgists while repairs are being made.  

 

 

Liturgists may want to utilize the Internet to print out the readings for the week.  One good resource is: www.ucc.org/worship.  Select "Lectionary Texts"  from the Resources on the left hand side of the page.   Scroll down to the date for your Sunday.  This search results in a page with sermon notes and the text of readings for the day.  Also you can scroll down to the printer version of the text.  If you "select all" and "copy" to a Word document, then you can edit the text and print it in a type face and point size which makes your reading comfortable.  The Psalm text is as it appears in the hymnal.


Coming Soon...Instructions and a link to the Whole People of God curriculum on line, which has additional worship resources, which you might incorporate into the Invocation.  Also there is a nice single page which provides background for the day's readings.  I have not been able to get the link to the www.wholepeopleofgod.com to work without requiring a password.  For the time being if you want to access the Biblical theme and Background, please email me at hcdart@comcast.net, and I will send you the page or the link or both. 


 

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October 22, 2006 marked the dedication of the John Usry Stained Glass Memorial Windows. The gathered community sang Now Thank We All Our God at the first worship service of the group that was to become the Congregational Church in Deerfield, and the gathered community sang its praises together again on this Sunday.  Connie Usry was joined by many members, friends, and families from past decades to celebrate the history of this church founded by her late husband, John.   Blair also took a few moments to recognize the very recent passing of their son, John Usry, Jr.

Windows were dedicated to Casey Cooper Hull, William Mackey, Billy Ray Prag, Carl M. Naab, and Carolyn Reed Potts; their friends and family shared stories of these loved ones and told of special times at the church.  Susan Lee and her family were present to see a window dedicated to her.  Warren Fremling sang A Lord Built House.   Mary Johnson provided a beautiful floral arrangement.  Catherine Reed, Stan Rundell, Merilyn Gehrke, and Susan Martersteck provided cake, sandwiches, fruit, cookies and punch, which allowed our guests time to visit with one another, sharing this special time.

 

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Can I Hear a Witness…

Blair Hull

Through our 2008 Season of Stewardship we are going to have a moment in worship when we hear a church member or friend give a witness.  Not in the speaking-in-tongues sense, but in a way of communicating something rarely-discussed-in-public sense.  Each witness will be responding to this question:  “Why is the Congregational Church in Deerfield important to you?”

Last week we heard our first witness, Lisa Cushing.  Her words were moving and everyone present felt blessed by what she said. Lisa wasn’t just chatting; she was sharing her deepest feelings about who we are as a church and what this has meant to her and her family.

So often we run around in our own lives, with our own experiences, and practiced behaviors, and never know what others really think of us.  Then a friend comes along and holds up a mirror.  Initially, we might want to duck – not sure of what we’ll see.  But here, at the Congregational Church in Deerfield, UCC, there is no need to duck—for in this church we can be confident that the reflection we see will not frighten us or make us feel bad.  No, we will feel blessed.

Oh, we know this is not a perfect church.  People are in the church, and people are imperfect, so our church isn’t perfect either.  However, church is the gathered Christian community where we acknowledge that God is with us and this adds an element of newness and hope that we don’t have out in the world.  Church is where we learn about being of God, Our reflection in the mirror could only be amazing.
.
In amazement, as we listen to a witness share the good news about our church, we also see, hear, and feel that we have lots more to do.  We cannot rest on our past good deeds or hopeful intentions – we have to listen to what others have to say, and live into what we hear.
 
Lisa spoke of a particular disappointment in her life, but she said we, as a church have made her feel accepted and loved.  That means as a church, as a people of God, we are doing what we are supposed to do.  It takes incredible courage to come to a new church—to come forward, trying again, especially if another church has rejected you.

When people share who they are—when they have the courage to join a church in the hope of finding what they need—things change.  Not just for them but for all of us. This is true for every person who walks through the door on Sunday morning.  Each time we enter the church we are new, and together we have an opportunity to be more than we could imagine.  Together, we are given the opportunity to be Holy-Spirit-surprised. 

In the next few weeks you will hear people witness as they answer the question, “Why is the Congregational Church in Deerfield important to you?”  I hope you will be present to hear their witness.  As we listen, as we listened to Lisa, I hope we are simultaneously challenged and overjoyed by the reflection we see in their faces.  May their witness make us all ready to commit in a new way to our church and our God in our Season of Stewardship.

For that love, that peace, that calm, that connection you are praying for… you might actually find it in church.  Who knows what Holy-Spirit-surprises will be in our lives? Only God knows.

Blessings to you on your journey,

Rev. Blair Hull,
Pastor of the Congregational Church in Deerfield, Where All Are Welcome.

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Can I Hear a Witness…

Craig Carlson

As always... I enjoyed reading the Happenings but I feel compelled to respond to "Why is the Congregational Church in Deerfield important to you?”  Well, here goes...

As mentioned on several occasions and reiterated at our last attended service some 3+ years ago... we (our family) were made to feel wanted from the minute we walked in the door! However, that was then and this is now. Only now, I understand even to a greater degree why UCC Deerfield is important to me...Because it has changed my life. Here are some examples...

1) I used to believe my life was full of problems...now I respond "If that is my only problem today, I don't have any problems".  This change in view can be directly attributed to many of Blair's sermons that always seemed to hit home with me.

2) I feel now more that ever that love and faith are the two of the most important parts of living. Thanks again to Blair and to the congregation.

3) UCC Deerfield contains the most amazing group of individuals.  Although we (the Carlson's) are unknown by many, and forgotten by some, we will always feel a strong tie to UCC and hope to remain friends for a lifetime. Although removed from the church we still feel connected and that is because you make that possible through continuing friendships and correspondence. The congregation is a compellation of individuals who truly care!

4) Your impact (still not completely understood) was so strong that my face hurts from the smile that formed when I saw the picture of Mark on the "Member News" section of the website.  I gave a silent "Yeah" when I saw the picture of the swing set in the "Sunday School" section of the website (an item worked toward in my tenure w/Trustees but not realized before my departure).  Hey, I also looked at the church building in the background of that picture and wondered how the roof was holding out? (Once a trustee, always a trustee…)

5) Dealing with a teenager is tough and lord knows they can be the worst communicators on the planet.  But out of the blue, my 16 yr old (Will) turned to me last week (when my daughter Laura was singing a song for us at the dinner table) and said,  "I miss when we used to sing at church in
Deerfield". Your impact spreads throughout families.

We have sparsely checked out other churches in WY and have found none that compare...you spoiled us! I wish you were here, physically, but I also understand that that is selfish. I now tend to find my house of worship in the mountains at 10,000+ feet. A lot of internal communication and soul searching can be done there but it is no replacement for the interaction within UCC Deerfield. The main point I am getting at here is that many of you share in my delighted feelings for the Church, the minister, and the rest of the congregation. However, having relocated from UCC Deerfield I feel qualified to say, "you may not fully understand how outstanding the UCC Deerfield family is".
You know the old saying "you don't know what you had till it's gone"...Well, the benefits of my tenure at UCC Deerfield keep showing themselves every day (and we have been gone for almost as long as we were members).   

"We are the United Church of Christ and all are welcome here". That say's it all!  Find plusses in the minuses and don't strive for perfection. Perfection would prohibit the UCC Deerfield from the "Real" feeling that is relayed. UCC Deerfield is a family; I feel a part of that family (even now) and that is one thing that sets you apart from others. 

Blessings to all (we will visit you again sometime),

Craig Carlson

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Welcoming News
On February 11, 2007, after worship, there was a new member meet-and-greet-luncheon at the parsonage. Then, on Sunday, February 25th, all seven were taken into membership with our church.  If you have not yet met Jim and Jenay (and their children Isabella and Johnathon), Becky and Anna (daughter Emily), Eva and Lisa (son, Zachery and a new baby due in June), and David (whose partner Don is Catholic yet plans to visit with David, from time to time) -- I hope you will introduce yourselves to them and make them all feel welcome.
 
We are blessed by their presence and they are blessed by us; and we all have a great deal to learn from each other… what a wonderful place this church is!

Our church is a place where all people are welcome to be with us.  Here we model, to the best of our ability, the extravagant hospitality Jesus taught others and some one taught us.

Blessings to all of us as we journey together,

Reverend Blair Hull

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CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS


Our annual Congregational Meeting will be held after church on May 18, 2008 to review the annual reports and vote on new officers.  Please plan to attend

The Congregation had a special meeting on April 27, 2008.  Below are the proposals (I,II,III) that were approved at that time.

I

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN DEERFIELD
DRAFT PLAN 2008 – 2010

IT IS OUR MISSION

….to SHARE in the worship of God, our creator; Jesus Christ, our redeemer and the Holy Spirit, our sustainer,

…to PROVIDE Christian nurture for God’s children,

…to GROW in discipleship through study and ministry to all people,

…to SERVE the welfare of our communities and our world,

…to PROCLAIM the gospel of God’s love to all people and

…to STRIVE for justice and peace for all of God’s creatures.

(Adapted from “Constitution and By-Laws of the Congregational Church in Deerfield, passed April, 1966, revised, July, 2003)

DURING THIS PERIOD WE WILL FOCUS ON

Encouraging Personal Spiritual Growth:
•    Create and implement a vibrant and joyful Christian education program for children.
•    Create and offer regularly scheduled Christian education opportunities for adults such as a              personal spiritual series or a series on Christianity in today’s world.
•    Create new spiritual growth opportunities in worship services.
•    Create opportunities for meditation and prayer through such means as the construction of a             labyrinth on the church grounds.

Reaching out to others via Mission and Outreach Activities:
•    Schedule a variety of mission activities which provide opportunities for participation for all                    members.
•    Increase mission and outreach monetary support by 3 % each year during the period.*
•    Make our church known for its mission and outreach work in the community.

Creating a Beautiful, Functional, Flexible Space:
•    Evaluate the physical space available in and around our church with respect to its comfort,              welcoming aesthetics, and support of worship and Christian education.
•    Devise a list of improvements consistent with funds available and perceived value.
•    Begin implementing improvements immediately.

Attracting an Engaged and Growing Membership
•    Devise a metric to compile a baseline for engaged membership by 10/1/08
•    Aim for 10 % growth in three years
•    Plan special events eight times per  year

Creating Financial Stability:
•    Aim for 30 pledging units by December, 2010 (currently 25 pledging units)
•    Develop and implement a year-round education program regarding pledging and tithing
•    Aim for an annual pledged increase of 5 % to 7%
•    Develop and promote a planned giving program

*FY 07/08 donations of $2,148 to Neighbors in Need, Christmas Fund, One Great Hour of Sharing, Strengthen the Church, Our Church’s Wider Mission, UNICEF, Katrina Disaster Relief Fund.

II

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN DEERFIELD
REVISED STRUCTURE 4-23-08

Officers:
•    Moderator
•    Treasurer
•    Financial Secretary
•    Clerk


Coordinating Council
Membership: Moderator who serves as Chair, Clerk, Treasurer, Chair of Trustees, two other committee chairs who are willing to serve and Pastors (ex officio) 
Responsibilities: As the official governing body of the church, the Coordinating Council sets goals and objectives for the church year.  Plans, coordinates and evaluates the church’s program and activities for the year. Appoints Nominating Committee*. Appoints individuals and committees to spearhead fundraising efforts and other ad hoc efforts as needed.  Keeps Congregation informed in various ways including reporting at Congregational Meetings. 
Meets monthly.

Committees

Christian Education
Membership: Chair, two members, and Pastor (ex officio) and Christian Education Coordinator (ex officio).
Responsibilities:  Recruits, orients, works with and evaluates Christian Education Coordinator to conceptualize and implement a comprehensive program for youth, from birth to confirmation. Has final responsibility for choosing the curriculum and helps to recruit teachers to carry out the program. Takes responsibility for annual Children’s Christmas Pageant.  Meets at least quarterly.

Congregational Life
Membership: Chair, two members and Pastor (ex officio)
Responsibilities:  This committee focuses on the needs of church members and undertakes activities that support and care for members including the membership directory, calling/email tree, birthday/anniversary recognition, support for members in need and social activities to bring members together. 
Meets quarterly.

In-Care
Membership:  Chair, two members and Pastor (ex officio)
Responsibilities:  Meets with, guides and supports members of the congregation who are candidates for the ministry. 
Meets at least twice a year.

Memorial Gifts and Endowments
Membership:  Chair, one member at large and one representative from Trustees and Pastor (ex officio)  
Responsibilities:  Develops and implements a planned giving program.  Creates a list annually of items needed by the church and publicizes it.  Works with the Financial Secretary and the Treasurer to insure proper receipt and thanks for all memorial gifts received.
Meets at least bi-annually.

Mission and Outreach
Membership:  Chair:   Associate Pastor for Mission and Outreach, two members and Pastor (ex officio)
Responsibilities:  Organizes church’s response to Christian service in the world. Takes responsibility for working with Trustees to develop a year round education program regarding pledging, tithing and service.
Meets at least quarterly.

Pastoral Relations
Membership:  Chair and two members. 
Responsibilities:  Meets with Pastors on an as needed basis to insure harmonious relations between Pastors and Congregation.
Meets as needed.

Public Relations and Communications 
Chair, two members and Pastor (ex officio).
Responsibilities:  Responsible for communication of church activities and programs outside of the church. Activities may include writing and distribution of press releases and advertisements, information on cable TV, church sign, blogging, podcasting, etc.
Meets at least quarterly and at least  twice a year with the Coordinating Council to learn about and advertise the programs and services as planned. 

Sunday Support
Membership:  Co-Chairs and Champions as listed below and Pastors (ex officio)
Responsibilities:  Insures that each Sunday is covered regarding flowers, ushers, liturgists, communion preparation and coffee hosts.
Meets Quarterly
    Coffee Hosts:  Working with Time and Talent survey information, assigns members to specific Sundays and trains and reminds them appropriately.  Takes responsibility for gaps or lapses in the schedule.
    Communion Preparation:  Prepares communion on the first Sunday of the month and other occasions as necessary.
    Flowers: Working with Time and Talent survey information, assigns members to specific Sundays and trains and reminds them appropriately. Takes responsibility for gaps or lapses in the schedule.
    Liturgists:  Working with Time and Talent survey information, assigns members to specific Sundays and trains and reminds them appropriately.  Takes responsibility for gaps or lapses in the schedule.
    Ushers:  Working with Time and Talent survey information, assigns members to specific months, trains and reminds them appropriately.  Takes responsibility for gaps or lapses in the schedule.

Trustees
Membership:  Chair, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, minimum of two and maximum of four at-large members and Pastor (ex officio).
Responsibilities:  Plans and oversees church budget, property and grounds. Informs Coordinating Council of need for fund raising efforts. Coordinates with Mission and Outreach for church funding
Meets monthly

Web Taskforce 
Membership:  Chair, two members and Pastor (ex officio)
Responsibilities:  Develops and keeps web site fresh and compelling including monthly issues of “Happenings.” 
Meets at least six times per year. 

*Nominating Committee:  Pastors, Moderator and two members at large not currently serving on the Coordinating Council.

III

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN DEERFIELD
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION PROPOSAL 4-26-08


NEED FOR POSTION
Our church is small but we are committed to a quality Christian education program for our children.  In the last three years we have had difficulty recruiting teachers so that only a few people have been willing to serve in this capacity. 

IDEAL CANDIDATE
We are looking for someone with teaching experience, a love of children and commitment to Christian principles to serve as our Christian Education Coordinator.  This individual would be selected by our Christian Education Committee and report to this group on a quarterly basis. 

DUTIES
The Christian Education Coordinator would have primary responsibility for three age level classes every Sunday:  Nursery, Primary and Junior. Modest funding is available for a Nursery attendant.  Teachers for the other two classes could be recruited from the congregation but it is expected that the Christian education Coordinator would teach one class every Sunday. 

We would ask the Christian Education Coordinator to choose and purchase the curriculum with the concurrence of the Christian Education Committee. We would ask the Christian Education Coordinator to inventory supplies, make appropriate purchases and keep the supply cupboards in order.  A modest budget will be provided for this.

We would ask the Christian Education Coordinator to work with volunteer teachers to insure happy relationships and joyful learning. 

RELATIONSHIP TO CHRISTIAN EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The Christian Education Coordinator will be recruited, selected and evaluated by the Christian Education Committee.  The Committee will work in concert with the Christian Education Coordinator, approving the curriculum, helping to recruit teachers and generally planning and insuring a quality Christian education program on a yearly basis.

COMPENSATION
We will pay the Christian Education Coordinator an annual salary of $5,200 to be responsible for this work.  

DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTION:
1.    Meets at least four times per year with Christian Education Committee
2.    Outlines plans for the Christian education year in concert with committee including Christmas              Pageant and Teacher Recognition
3.    Selects curriculum and presents choice to committee
4.    Purchases curriculum and supplies within specified budget.
5.    Recruits teachers in concert with committee members
6.    Takes primary responsibly for teacher training
7.    Schedules teachers and organizes a process for substitutes
8.    Organizes Sunday school rooms and supplies, making purchases as needed.
9.    Recruits, trains and evaluates nursery attendant
10.  Teaches every Sunday











If you have questions or concerns about this issue, please contact Sarah Long, Moderator, at 847- 419-6985 or slong@nsls.info



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Congregational Meeting
Congregational Church in Deerfield
April 22, 2007
Minutes


Present: Susan Martersteck, Linda Haiges, Carol Mellem, Doug Soutter, Ellie Wachholder, Mark Wachholder, David Wywialowski, Cecil Curtwright, Martha Perritt, Joy Gottlieb, Harold Gottlieb, William G. Crowle, Roger Dart, Catherine Reed, Mary Johnson, Edward Johnson, Cynthia Fremling, Ann Soutter, Sarah Long, Blair Hull, Harriet Dart.

Sarah Long, Moderator of the Coordinating Council verified that a quorum was present and called the meeting to order at Noon.  Rev. Blair Hull opened the meeting with a prayer. 

Cynthia Fremling made a motion and Edward Johnson seconded the motion that the minutes of the special called congregational meeting of February 25 be approved as printed.  The motion passed.

Sarah called attention to the Annual Report.  Clerk, Harriet Dart noted the report from the Web Task Force and encouraged people to use our web cite regularly for up to date information.  Sarah reiterated that the Web can function as our filing cabinet, with every member who is registered having access to documents.  She also noted that access to certain details [CCID Insider] would be limited to members. [Sunday Sign Up] can be updated immediately to reflect who volunteered for each Sunday’s tasks.  Sarah noted that we have seven new members this year and most had found us initially though our web page. 

Roger Dart presented financial scenarios with the sale of the parsonage (attached).  This spreadsheet was developed with the assistance of Russ Barefield from the Chicago Metropolitan Association.    A discussion of the data followed.

Cynthia Fremling presented the Proposed Structure for the 2007-2008 Church Year (attached).  She detailed the many opportunities for ministry.  These are listed on several posters.  Roger Dart and Edward Johnson seconded a motion to approve the Proposed Structure as presented.  Martha Perritt called for a vote, which passed unanimously.

There being no nominations from the floor, Doug Soutter moved and Linda Haiges seconded the motion to accept the following officers for the 2007-8 church year:
    Moderator                Sarah Long
    Treasurer                 Ann Soutter
    Financial Secretary    Martha Perritt
    Clerk                       Harriet Dart

There being no further business, Cynthia Fremling moved and Ann Soutter seconded a motion to adjourn which passed at 12:45.


Respectfully submitted,


Harriet Cavanah Dart, Clerk


The Revised Structure

Sunday, April 22nd, we held our annual meeting in the Fellowship Hall.  Our moderator, Sarah Long, listed the achievements of this past year as well as the new structure that was approved at the Annual Meeting last year. She said that the Coordinating Council had discussed the things that worked well and the things that didn’t work quite so well under the new structure and had decided that the structure itself needed tweaking.  A revised structure has been devised and was presented.  The congregation approved it unanimously.  It will be evaluated as the year progresses and discussed at the Annual Meeting in 2008. 

Officers for the coming year are listed below.  The revised structure is also given but it has many openings to be filled.  We are hoping that you will seriously consider taking on one or more of these volunteer opportunities. 

The new structure features a Coordinating Council made up of the Moderator, Treasurer, three Committee Chairs and the Pastor.  Additionally there are Committees and Champions. Committees usually have a Chair and two members. The Pastor serves ex officio on all committees.  Champions are individuals who agree to organize and be responsible for a specific church function.  Champions are not expected to do all of the work themselves.  Rather they are asked to recruit others to help. The activities of each committee and activity are posted below to help you decide where you might be of service.  Please look over this list to see if you can help in any of these areas.

If you have any questions, or you would like to volunteer, please call me at (847) 872-1319.         

Cynthia Fremling


Structure for the Congregational Church in Deerfield

Officers
Moderator – Sarah Long
Treasurer – Ann Soutter
Financial Secretary – Martha Perritt
Clerk - Harriet Dart

Coordinating Council
Membership:  Moderator who serves as Chair, Treasurer, Chair of Trustees, two other committee chairs who are willing to serve and Pastor (ex officio).
Responsibilities:  Sets goals and objectives for the church year.  Plans, coordinates and evaluates the church’s program and activities for the year.  Keeps Congregation informed in various ways including reporting at Congregational Meetings.

Moderator – Sarah Long            Treasurer – Ann Soutter
    Trustees Chair – Carl Ekins        Committee Chair - ______________
Committee Chair – Cynthia Fremling    Rev Blair Hull



COMMITTEES

Trustees

Membership:  Chair, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, two members and Pastor (ex officio).
Responsibilities:  Plans and oversees church budget and property and grounds.

Chair – Carl Ekins             Treasurer – Ann Soutter          Financial Secretary – Martha Perritt
Rev. Blair Hull           Member – Roger Dart          Member - ____________________

Christian Education

Membership:  Chair, two members and Pastor (ex officio).
Responsibilities:  Conceptualizes and implements a comprehensive program for youth, from birth to confirmation.  Chooses curriculum and recruits teachers to carry out the program.  Takes responsibility for the annual Children’s Christmas Pageant.

Chair - _____________________           Rev. Blair Hull
Member - Ann Soutter                 Member - ___________________

Congregational Life

Membership:  Chair, two members and Pastor (ex officio).
Responsibilities:  Undertakes activities that support and care for current church members including the membership directory, calling/email tree, birthday/anniversary recognition, support for members in need and social activities to bring members together.

    Chair – Cynthia Fremling            Rev. Blair Hull
    Member - ___________________    Member - _____________________

In – Care

Membership: Chair, Two members and Pastor (ex officio)
Responsibilities:  Meets with, guides and supports members of the congregation who are candidates for the ministry.

Chair – Susan Martersteck            Rev. Blair Hull
Member – Joy Gottlieb            Member – Carol Mellem


Pastoral Relations

Membership:  Chair and two members.
Responsibilities:  Meets with Pastor on an as needed basis to insure harmonious relations between Pastor and Congregation.

    Chair – Susan Martersteck            Member – ________________
           Member – David Wywialowski

Stewardship

Membership:  Chair, two members and Pastor (ex officio).
Responsibilities:  Organizes church’s response to needs outside of the church including Five in Five, Our Church’s Wider Mission and other local needs.  Takes responsibility for annual stewardship campaign within the church including the annual Time and Talent Survey.

Chair – David Wywialowski                Rev. Blair Hull
Member - ___________________     Member - _____________________

Web Taskforce

Membership: Chair, two members and Pastor (ex officio).
Responsibilities:  Develops and keeps Web site fresh and compelling including monthly issues of “Happenings.”

    Chair – _______________                Member - ____________________
    Member – Becky Jacobson            Member - _____________________
    Rev. Blair Hull

Worship

Membership:  Chair, two members and Pastor (ex officio)
Responsibilities:  Plans Sunday worship services and special services such as Pentecost, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and Hanging of the greens.

    Chair – Cynthia Fremling            Rev. Blair Hull
    Member - ______________________    Member - _____________________


ACTIVITY CHAMPIONS

Announcements:  Prepares announcements each Sunday for inclusion in the Church Bulletin.   

Champions - Susan Martersteck and Blair Hull

Bake Sales at Deerfield Farmer’s Market:  Solicits bakers, organizes and takes responsibility for each sale.    

Champion - Ellie Wachholder

Church Bulletin – Prepares text for bulletin each Sunday.
   
Champion - Warren Fremling

Church Mailings:  Prepares and mails materials to Congregation as needed.

Champion - Marti Anstett

Coffee Hosts:  Working with time and talent survey information, assigns members to specific Sundays, trains and reminds them appropriately.  Takes responsibility for gaps or lapses in the schedule.

Champion - ______________________

Communion Preparation:  Prepares communion on the first Sunday of the month.

Champion – Roger Dart

Flowers:  Working with Time and Talent survey information, assigns members to specific Sundays and trains and reminds them appropriately.  Takes the responsibility for gaps or lapses in the schedule.

Champion  - Mary Johnson

Fund Raising:  Organizes fund raising activities as needed.

Champion - _______________________

Liturgists:  Working with the Time and Talent survey information, assigns members to specific Sundays, trains and reminds them appropriately.  Takes responsibility for gaps or lapses in the schedule.

Champion – Joy Gottlieb

Media Coordinator:  Works with the Pastor and others to prepare press releases for church activities and pursues other media attention for the church and its activities.

Champion - ________________________

Memorial Gifts:  In concert with the Trustees and the Pastor, creates a list of items needed by the church and publicizes it annually.  Works with the Financial Secretary and the Treasurer to insure proper receipt and thanks for all memorial gifts received.

Champion – Roger Dart 

Outdoor Sign:  Takes responsibility for changing the text on the outdoor sign at least bi-weekly.

Champions – Harriet Dart, George Soutter

Ushers:  Working with Time and Talent survey information, assigns members to specific months, trains and reminds them appropriately.  Takes responsibility for gaps or lapses in the schedule.

Champion - _______________________


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Mission and Stewardship
One Great Hour of Sharing

Each year we contribute to five Special Mission Offerings as part of Our Churches Wider Mission.  The first of the "5 for 5" this year is the One Great Hour of Sharing.  The One Great Hour of Sharing commitment to building sustainable communities is rooted in our theological understanding that every human being is created in the image of God and that all are kin in the human family.  Recently, money from this fund was used to help people in our nation living in flooded areas and to provide support to 35,500 survivors of a cyclone that hit Bangladesh.  For more details about where the money from this offering is used please visit: http://www.ucc.org/oghs/

Thank you to our members for the offerings made last year to the wider mission work of our United Church of Christ.  The UCC is involved in important work in our nation and around the world.  The donations to the church’s five mission offerings during the year help to make this work possible.  The offering for One Great Hour of Sharing will be taken on Sunday March 2, 2008.  Special envelopes for this offering will be at church.

Thanks and Blessings from the Stewardship Committee, 

David Wywialowski



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                                                             Celebration of Life

Thank you for celebrating the life of my father, Cecil Allan Cavanah, during worship on June 3.  My mother-in-law, Florence Dart, joined this community of faith in celebrating my dad.  I felt surrounded by your love.

At the May performance of the Stained Glass Coffeehouse, Michael Smith sang,
I Brought My Father with Me.   Just two weeks later Dad crossed the horizon we call death.  “There are some ways I’m just like him; some ways he was just like me…”  He provided a wonderful model for the end of his life.  I am grateful to Rev. Susan Martersteck who presented the Five Wishes program at church this past year, which stimulated some important conversations in our family.  One of the best gifts Dad gave us kids was Advanced Directives.   As he moved from his own house to the nursing home, he demonstrated forgiveness, appreciation and his faith that “Everything will work out; it always does.  God provides.”   Many hymns like Great is Your Faithfulness and the music sung by Magpie (“Loving spirits live forever, we’re all swimming to the other side”) bring comfort and joy.  You can meet my dad at www.dennisonfuneralhome.com, where condolences can be posted.

Harriet Dart

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  Communication Survey Report
Earlier this summer, the Web Task Force conducted a survey and interviewed new members about church communications in general, and the church website in particular, in order to improve how we engage with each other, and especially how we connect with potential new members. 

Thank you to the 19 members who completed the written survey, and to the three new members who allowed us to interview them!  Here are the highlights:
•    Our current church members’ “top three” most preferred communications mechanisms are Happenings, announcements in church, and email messages. 
•    Most of our current members do not utilize our church website – but it is a critical method to reach-out to potential new members.
•    Of the current and new members who have visited our church website, most offered positive comments, particularly about its ease of use.  The major improvement opportunities included “jazzing it up” to make it more lively and frequently updated. 
•    The most common reason our current members reported for not visiting the website was not knowing how the website would benefit them.  Also, the registration process may not be clear to all members; they may not realize what additional information is available to them if they officially “sign on” as users.   

Based on your feedback, the Web Task Force plans the following action steps:
•    Continue to produce Happenings and make announcements in church a priority.
•    Explore utilizing email communications more, since members indicated this was a preferred mechanism.
•    Develop ways to promote the use of the church website by demonstrating to people how it would benefit them, and what features and information available. 
•    Continue to publicize information about how to access the website and updates about its content in Happenings and through other communications. 
•    Continually update and improve the website in its capacity to attract potential new members. 
•    Encourage church attendance and committee participation. 
•    Explore new and more active, two-way mechanisms to communicate with each other, in addition to the more “passive,” written formats – such as Congregational meetings, gatherings, retreats, etc. – to keep us connected and engaged on a personal level.  

You may be wondering to yourself, what can I do as a result of this information?  This survey was meant to start us thinking!  So, if you have thoughts about what we can do better to connect with each other or reaching out to new members, please feel free to share them with me or with one of the Web Task Force Members – Sarah Long, Blair Hull, Harriet Dart, Becky Jacobson, or Doug Soutter. 

Barbara Trautlein
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GIFTS TO THE CHURCH


Remember...  if you have stock that has appreciated significantly, it may be advantageous for you to give it to the church. Gifting to the church allows you to avoid paying capital gains tax on its appreciation. Also, you will receive a charitable deduction for the value of the contribution.

If you are interested, shares should be transferred to The Congregational Church in Deerfield, account  #2466-6456 at Schwab, 55 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, IL  60062.   The DTC is 0164, Code 40. If you have questions, ask Ann Soutter or Martha Perritt.




 

 

A Message from Blair

In the brave new world in which we are called to minister, we need the church, this church, our church, more than ever.  As our church likes to say we are all ministers here and that is more and more obvious as time goes on. We are all part of the process and part of the plan. A recent visitor said we “exude relationship.” Needless to say, being this easily seen by a first-time visitor as embodying what we are all striving for as a people of God in this holy place makes me incredibly pleased. 

In our church we have discerned, and talked, discussed and voted a great deal in the last two years and I want to say again, and probably not for the last time, how proud I am to be your pastor. And now, as with all great accomplishments, the work once more begins. This is work you will be able to see with your eyes and not just experience with your heart.

In the last thirteen years that I have been your pastor we have gone through many changes and epiphanies, and I’m sure we will go through many more. Without sounding like a mother hen so proud of her chicks, I want to say this is all about your being willing to minister with me.  I could never do it alone.

In this newsletter you will see some of what we have decided and this is part of what I am talking about, but there is so much more yet to be revealed and you are all a part of it. As we journey together in the next days and weeks and months, I invite you to engage in a new way with our new plan - to work with each other in these new ways to be both the church of the past and the present, and as we do our very best to also be the church of the future.

While many people participated and contributed to this leg of the CCID UCC journey, this particular part could not have seen the light of day without Sarah Long. Sarah has been our council moderator for two years and thanks to her vision and persistence we are in this place in time where there is nothing but promise ahead. From the bottom of my heart, Sarah, and for the entire church, I say thank you.

I am also looking forward to the next year to see who will step up to the plate? Who will volunteer for all those jobs that have to be signed up for? You will. As you do, we will see what comes next for this little wonderful church that needs everyone of you to be who we are and whose we are.
This has been a great year and next year can only be better.

Blessings,

Rev. Blair Hull, Your Pastor


A New Home

We have moved!  Our new address is 1215 Dodge, Evanston, IL 60202.  You can still reach me either at the church, 847-945-0176 or at our new Evanston phone number, 847-859-2578.

Blessings to all of you and thanks for your prayers, Blair


Recently there was a study done by the PEW Charitable Trust that talked about American religious affiliations.  Most of us in the pulpit and pews are not surprised by their findings.  To quote the Chicago Tribune:  “Many Roman Catholics and Protestants in America are leaving the churches of their childhood and either embracing other faiths or claiming no religion at all.” After quoting interesting statistics, PEW Forum Director Luis Lugo said, “Everybody in this country is losing members, everybody is gaining members…It’s a very competitive market place, and if you rest on your laurels you’re going to be history.”
The definition of resting on your laurels, according to the Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms says that resting on your laurels is to be so satisfied with your achievements that you make no effort to improve.  And, for the most part, that’s what we do—we say we like our church and our lives the way they are—why rock the boat?  We are resistant to change unless we are sick, or poor, or suffering, then we just might be willing to try something new.


This month we are embarking on a journey with over 2000 years of history and even so, no one can say everything is the same in the Easter story that’s central to the Christian faith.  The way we see the story has to change because change is part of the essential nature of faith—without change we never find out more of who we are in Christ or what we might believe.  Without change our faith is the same faith we had when we were confirmed, and, while most valuable to our spiritual journey, it was just the beginning, not the end.


Our church is a gathered group of seekers who like Jesus’ message of loving your neighbor as yourself.  We tend to be a collection of friends and strangers who might struggle with the doctrine and dogma as it has evolved, or devolved depending on your point of view, but we like the spirituality we find together in our small, lovely sanctuary where all are welcome.


We are welcome here whether we all agree on much of anything EXCEPT that God loves us all the same, and God has called us together as a group of people seeking a way to live and love in a tattered and confusing world.


One of the central tenets of the United Church of Christ is that more is yet to be reveled…if we grab on to that truth then we are all about change – we have to be.
Recently, when Rachel and I were at Confirmation camp, I heard the adults talking about their concerns about their small churches and I realized two things:  one, that except for Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, we all think we are in a small church.  And two, no matter what you do you can’t ever kill the church.  When we spend so much energy trying to stay the same we, as custodians of God’s house, can slow individual and corporate growth down so much that we forget who we-are-and-whose-we-are.
Christians learn more about God and their own personal journey in small groups, with like-minded people.  But we can kill people’s enthusiasm, and hope for peace from suffering, confusion and pain if we just slog along the same ways we always have; or we can risk being of Christ in a new way – an Easter morning way.  There are many paths to spiritual fulfillment and Americans are looking for it…looking and not finding it in one place and then going to look in another.  What we look for is a place that is enough the same to be comfortable and different enough to give us hope that we can find our way as one who seeks after God and God’s love for all people.


I have looked in so many places for the kind of God people I want to be around. Just when I think I have heard and seen all I can get from this church, we change.  We open up like a new flower and more of what I am seeking as a believer and a pastor opens up.  As we come to this Easter time where more will be revealed, I hope the same is true for you.


Many blessings,
Rev. Blair Hull, Pastor

 

 

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Gospel Explorers' Discussion Group

Watch Next Month for more news.

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Once upon a Church


“Once upon a time…”

That’s as old a phrase in storytelling as there is, probably and it’s challenged only by “ . . and they lived happily ever after.”

But I think no story is any more fascinating, or any more important than story we are living.

What story is that?  It is the story of being the church of Jesus Christ.  By our best estimates, it is about 2000 years old and the story still being written.  There are older stories, such as that of Judaism, but for us, Christianity is the one that counts.

What are the distinguishing features about this religion?  First, and foremost, it is an individual, PARTICIPATORY religion.

What does that mean?  It means that you and I are not members OF the church, WE ARE the church.  Our church is NOT the building, NOT the pastor, NOT the windows, or the sign along the road.

Once upon a time (there it is again!) church was conducted in private homes.  That’s what Peter and James and John and Paul were doing; creating communities of people who had something in common – belief in Jesus Christ.  They didn’t even know they were starting a religion and “a church”.

As their communities multiplied and grew in size, they began looking for bigger homes (sometimes a tent) in which to gather.  Why a tent?  Because many of the early believers didn’t have a home, or a “regular job” and were therefore living a transient life, they were always on the move.  (Makes me wonder what it would be like to live in a Mayflower Van Lines trailer truck.)

As humankind increased in numbers and societal development became more sophisticated, things began to settle down.   Villages became towns, towns became cities, etc.  We began to build fancier buildings (there were more skilled craftsmen.)

During the first three hundred years following Jesus’ crucifixion, the Roman government treated the followers of Jesus very harshly.  They were severely persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, and slaughtered.  They were forced to go to great lengths to hide their allegiance.  They worshiped secretly, and usually at night to avoid being identified.  Even as they grew in numbers, theirs was a highly stressful existence.

About 380 C.E. the Roman Empire was starting to lose its influence.  The emperor, Constantine, had noticed that those who had been so persecuted, the Christians, were a hard working lot of folks.  They never complained about being thrown to the lions or other sorts of torture.  They worked hard.   So, about 350 C.E., Emperor Constantine, in an effort to reverse the decline in Roman power, issued an edict that the Empire, and ALL Roman citizens, should become Christian.  Suddenly the original groups were removed from the emperor’s “hit list” and everyone become a Christian.  Rome would not, however, return to it’s past glory.

What happened to Christianity?  Two things.  First, a hierarchy appeared to fill the political power vacuum, thus we gained a Pope, and Cardinals and Bishops and Priests, etc.   Secondly, with access to good Roman architects and engineers, the Christians (who were now in charge in many places) thought it would be nice to have nice big, secure, stone churches.  The lesser villages all across Europe and eastern Asia had their own smaller versions.  (Some of the smaller churches of what is now Norway and Sweden and Denmark are truly beautiful little buildings.)

Over the next thousand years or so, the churches became bigger and bigger and fancier and more ornate.  Christians had become the political power!  And thus the large cathedrals were created to house (and advertise) this new reality.

Things remained this way for many hundreds of years, until some restless folks took issue with the idea of “the divine right of kings” and set sail from England and migrated westward.  They found no churches where they landed, so they had to start all over again and had very small groups meeting in homes.

As the new “Americans” began to spread out across the land, they had to have their church.  How did they do it?  They provided the pastor with a horse and a bedroll and gave him a list of homes to visit.  Sometimes it took weeks for the pastor to travel from one to the next and provide worship leadership.  Much of the time, the church members were their own pastors.

Well, then the settlements grew and before you know it, they’d built a small church.  These were like the ones you saw on “Little House on the Prairie” on TV.  In truth they were small wooden versions of the great cathedrals, usually located close to the center of town.  They were NOT the government this time.

The circle of practice has continued to repeat itself every so often, until today, we find ourselves once again in a very transient form of society.  Jobs are no longer “careers”.  Homes are built in a way that requires replacement every fifty years or so.  Cars are now mostly plastic and recyclable.  There is very little of permanence – except one. That one is our relationship with our God.  Does anyone still drive an automobile built in the 1970’s?  Of course not!  We now drive many miles further every year, and at $3.50 a gallon for fuel, we hope more economically.  We are changing our public infrastructure to better serve contemporary needs.

So the question for us becomes, “What sort of a church building will serve our needs?”  I will now speculate a bit.

Imagine for a minute, if you will, what it might be like to have our church community exist without a building.  We could do one of several things.  We could meet in various homes, with the pastor traveling to each location on a given Sunday, or we could rent or buy a large tent and set up in one of the Forest Preserves (a different one each week) and move about from place to place.  Or, we could simplify our building to be just a large room in which we could have any number of various functions, like an auditorium or arena.

Why all this sort of speculation?  Well, as you know, we are in the process of selling our parsonage.  This house, located at 26 Forestway Drive here in Deerfield, has served as the home of our pastor since the very first member joined The Congregational Church in Deerfield.  Those people who created this community of faith are now either gone, or have dispersed over a very wide area.  The parsonage, built new in 1957 is now fifty years old, and exhibiting the usual symptoms of a tract-built home of that age.  So is the church building.  Additionally, the church was designed to be very activity-specific.  It has a narthex (entry area), a sanctuary, a nursery room, three classrooms and a community room.  They all provided a very useful function during the first twenty or thirty years of our existence.  But, just as our community has changed, so have the needs of our church community.

No longer are our members all residents of Deerfield and the immediately neighboring communities.  Some of our faithful come from towns as far away as forty miles.

Here now is some historical information about church buildings.  Most of you are aware of the great cathedrals that dot the landscape of Europe.  Ever notice where those cathedrals are located?  Unless you’ve been there, probably not.  They are located right in the center of town!  They ARE the center of the community – at least they were when built.  They are also, by far, the largest (tallest) building in those towns.  They all have at least one, and more often TWO very tall steeples or spires.  What for?  Just to hold a bell?  Nope.  Oh, they do have a great bell, or even an entire campanile (array of bells) mounted in them.  The primary purpose of those spires was to serve as a travel guide.  Roads were very primitive paths in those days, a farmer living five miles or so away from town could easily find his way to A) the church, and B) the market place that surrounded the cathedral.

A second and less obvious reason for the majestic size of the cathedrals was that the church was the government.  The local clergy was also the ultimate magistrate in legal matters.  This is confirmable by the fact that the church was the repository for all legal documents pertaining to births, deaths, etc.  (At that point in time, there was very little relating to land ownership or business and thus no need for a village hall.)  In fact, the church invented most of the forms (birth and death certificates, wills, probate records, and all that stuff.) used for this.

The third, least evident and most important reason for the building of the great cathedrals was that it provided the basis of employment for much of the town’s population, and also kept alive many skilled occupations such as stonemasonry, carpentry, portrait painting, and even glassmaking.

The time and nature of our society has changed enormously since the 1300’s.  We tend to lose sight of that due to the shortness of human life and the relatively poor history that we have kept through storytelling.  It’s much easier to say, “This is how it’s always been.”  Just ask your own children about how they think the world has always been.  You’ll get a real surprise!

The upshot of all of this exploration is that it may be time to reevaluate the nature of the physical church.

I don’t propose that we just tear down what we have.  But, we might consider something more radical than a different color of paint on the walls.  How about removing the pews in favor of a large open space that uses stackable chairs?  That would allow us to reconfigure our seating from time to time to create different types and forms of worship, and so on.

In the community room we could install a large flat panel TV with a BlueRay or DVD player on which we could put Sunday School lessons, or a PowerPoint of a mission trip to New Orleans.

Our mission is about the sharing of the word through worship, acts of compassion and teaching.  We should be looking at and choosing new ways to do those things that facilitate those actions.

We have only this current moment, and the possibility of tomorrow.

Peace.
Roger Dart

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Christian Education

 

Harriet Dart, Christian Education Chair



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Our New Directory is Out


Try as we might to get these things perfect, we don’t. You all have received your new church directory and here are the changes I would ask you to put into it:

Corona Talamantes        Sherry’s area code is 847

Cushing                            Eva goes as Cushing not Ott

Gottlieb                             Joy’s e-mail is Joy_gottlieb@yahoo.com (this is joy underscore)

Hull                                    Cecil’s e-mail is hermes@uic.edu

Naab, Nancy                    Please add Jade Lynn, who was recently adopted

Tsihlis                                Please add Chloe who was born March 16, 2007

Marti is going to run a few more copies that are in larger print for those who are asking for them.  If you have any other changes to the directory please e-mail me at revhull@comcast.net or Marti Anstett at anstettfamily@yahoo.com

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Looking Forward 2008-2010

The Coordinating Council of the church called on our membership to join a workshop on Saturday, April 26 to “look forward” and to make plans for the future. The membership had an opportunity to ask questions and to give feedback to four draft proposals that were spawned at the January retreat and developed by the Council during the following months.  The congregation met after church on Sunday, April 27 and voted unanimously to accept these four proposals. The full documents of these proposals will be posted on the bulletin boards in the fellowship hall and will also be available to those registered online for CCID Insider pages on the church web site (www.uccdeerfield.org).  

Roger Dart presented a Draft Plan for 2008-2010 that included these goals and listed many concrete steps to achieve them.

o    Encouraging Personal Spiritual Growth

o    Reaching out to others via Mission and Outreach Activities

o    Creating a Beautiful, Functional, Flexible Space

o    Attracting an Engaged and Growing Membership

o    Creating Financial Stability

Sarah Long presented a Revised Structure for accomplishing the mission of the church. The structure included familiar officers as listed in the constitution and some new committees for doing the activities in the weekly life of the church in Deerfield and beyond.

Cynthia Fremling reviewed Christian Education needs in light of its impact on several of the goals listed above.  A proposal to hire a person to work with the Christian Education committee and teachers to manage the Sunday School year round was accepted by the congregation.   

Carl Ekins proposed a list of repairs and refurbishments to the church buildings and grounds that the Trustees developed.  Ann Soutter provided a synopsis of the funds realized from the sale of the parsonage.

This groundwork sets the stage for the Annual Meeting, which will be held after church on May 18.  Annual Reports will be presented and officers for 2008-09 will be elected.

Harriet Dart, Church Clerk

 


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We Remember 9/11

September  9 was Firefighters' Sunday.  Mark Wachholder, our favorite firefighter, brought part of his collection of fireman's teeshirts and a few of his fireman friends to help us honor the brave firefighters who were there for us on 9/11 and who are there for us every day.  Thank you, Mark!

 

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Congregational Meeting Minutes
On February 3, 2008, a special congregational meeting called by the Coordinating Council was included in the worship service.  The Congregational Church in Deerfield voted unanimously to create the position of Associate Pastor for Mission and Outreach and to call Roger Dart to that position.  This action was taken after consultation with Edward Goode, Co-Minister for the Chicago Metropolitan Association, who gave this action his blessing.  

The Association sets the protocol for Ordination, which begins when an individual is taken In-Care with a local church during his or her time in seminary.  The process can begin in earnest only after the person in-care has received a Call to serve in a particular ministry.  Additional steps include writing and distributing an ordination paper and examination before several CMA committees.  The final step before ordination is an ecclesiastical council in the candidate’s home church with representatives from Cluster 1 churches.


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Trustees


An update:  Did you know that the Village of Deerfield doesn't allow those outdoor signs that have flashing lights and scrolling messages?    Well, they don't.    We were thinking that a new LED outdoor sign would give our church better visibility along Wilmot Road and certainly would make changing the message easier, but we have had to scrap that idea. 

As you are well aware, it's been a tough winter with a lot more snow than average.  This means our snow plowing bills will be higher than in recent years.   The Trustees are also keeping busy with the other little problems like the occasional leaking roof, intermittent phone line problems, outdoor sign problems, and a furnace repair. If you have a home improvement skill or if you know of a reputable contractor, we would appreciate that kind of help.

We are also looking for ways to improve our church with a little of the money from the parsonage sale.  Please let us know your ideas. 

Carl Ekins, Trustee Chairperson (630-351-4760)
Martha Perritt, Ann Soutter, Roger Dart


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Dear Members and Friends,

As we listen to the news, we can see how important and influential America is to the world. If we have a war – people choose sides. If we have trouble in our stock market – so does every other stock market around the world. The English say if The United States gets a cold, they get the flu. If our numbers are up, so is everyone else’s.

We are a plucky lot – and there is not just one American Way. We continue to be a people from indigenous and immigrant parents; a country still dedicated to religious freedom; and we are not one religion or one race or ethnicity but we are all still Americans. That alone is an amazing achievement.

As the Congregational Church in Deerfield, UCC we are a small cog in the greater wheel of churches. We, too, are a collection of different folk who have come together, initially, for one purpose: to worship God. In worshiping together we have become more than strangers who gather for an hour a week – we have become a family – a family in faith. And when you are a family, love is the bottom line. There in that love it is much easier to listen to each other, accepting our differences and not just seeking sameness. All are truly welcome here. That is an amazing testament to who we are as a church.

Some say being UCC is the hardest Christian denomination to be part of because we are so open in what we believe. We have some rules - even a few directives we are asked to consider, but two things stand out. First, is the way we do business - each member from confirmation on up has one vote. There is no one making decisions for the church body - we do it together. Secondly, we actively embrace and welcome many different ideas and ways of being a church. As the touchstone of our faith we believe in the Trinity – that there is a creator God who loves all of us; that Jesus came, died and was resurrected – and in doing so Christ is our Redeemer; and that in Christ’s departing he left us the Holy Spirit of God to be with us in all things. BUT regardless of what believe we are all welcomed by each other as part of the same family.

Many in our church never even think about the trinity and other things theological past confirmation …except maybe during Lent and Holy Week.  

This month there are two dates that come back to back and remind us both of what it means to be an American and a member of this church. On Tuesday, February 5 we have the opportunity to vote in a primary election – each person registered in Illinois has the privilege to help decide who the candidates will be in our election for president. Then on Wednesday, February 6th we will gather for a simple family supper and service as we begin the six weeks of Lent before Holy Week and Easter.

We are honored to be Americans and worshipers of God. As we journey forward as a church making even more welcoming decisions for those who come after us, may we remember we do this as a part of a nation that believes God is primary to who we are and what we do as a people: To remember that God has great expectations of us. We, as voters and worshipers are gathered in our sameness and our difference to be one people and take care of each other. May we all rise to this very exacting request and do our best for both nation and church.

Blessings to you,

Rev. Blair Hull, Pastor

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