Join us for Worship on Sundays @ 10 am. We are on Facebook and in-person!
PLEASE NOTE: anyone, even non-Facebook users, can access this live stream @ Facebook.com/cotcpcusa.
Just click the link to view COTC’s Facebook page. Following live streamed worship, the service will be posted on Facebook and on our website. Holy Communion will be shared during the first Sunday of each month, so be sure to have your bread and cup ready to go!
Just click the link to view COTC’s Facebook page. Following live streamed worship, the service will be posted on Facebook and on our website. Holy Communion will be shared during the first Sunday of each month, so be sure to have your bread and cup ready to go!
April 29, 2021
Dearly Beloved Children of God!
As we approach the month of May, I find myself pondering the blossoming of the earth around us and how in this new time of our history COTC will also begin blossoming. I’m reminded of the Psalmist’s song to God…
What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion. We will fulfill our vows to you, for you answer our prayers. All of us must come to you. Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all. What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple. You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas. You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength. You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations. Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy. You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy! (Psalm 65 ~ NLT)
I’m drawn into the Psalmist’s repetition of “You…” calling forth God’s attentiveness for God’s creation—human and otherwise. This attentiveness calls me to consider our own attentiveness as we begin to return to our building and renew our person-to-person relationships. Are there those who are not yet comfortable? Are we reaching out to them? How has our faithfulness blossomed in the midst of a pandemic? Where have we discovered an expansion of our relationships because of the pandemic? How will we maintain those relationships as we return to many in-person activities?
Mindfulness in our actions, undertakings, and decisions is important to the health, well-being, and faithfulness of our congregation. God’s mindfulness of us is assured elsewhere in the Psalms. A reminder of our own need for mindfulness toward others.
Psalm 8:4 – “…what are human beings that you are mindful of them…”
Psalm 25:6 – “Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.”
Psalm 115:12 – “The LORD has been mindful of us; he will bless us… “
Psalm 111:5 – “…he is ever mindful of his covenant…”
Being mindful in all we do as we move into a new era in our history will bring new blessings, and new challenges as we seek to keep our covenant with God. Mindfulness will require us to stretch even as we regain some sort of new normal. Mindfulness will ask us to do things in new ways.
That being said, I see mindfulness already happening here at COTC. So let’s start with some outdoors mindfulness.
At the last Corp Ops meeting, the group were mindfully aware there are some things needing to be done to maintain our property which are beyond our abilities and expertise. As such, they are searching for a COTC handy person to help us with those things. Charlie is organizing the remaining work for us to participate in. Concurrently with Charlie… the COTC Garden Committee is planning a planting day—one which includes both COTC members AND a couple of families from the community. BOTH of these will be held on the same day – May 22nd from 9 am to noon. What a great way to bring people together!!
AND, knowing some of us are challenged to engage in physical labor, I am asking you to mindfully make the decision to still stop by. Just having your presence to take pictures, cheer the workers on, and meet our neighbors is all the reason needed to stop by and say hello! And, you just might be the one to get the best pictures for us to share! You will not want to miss this opportunity for some great fellowship!!
Previously, I have mentioned the Amos 5:24 team birthed at a Session meeting. The passage from Amos 5:24 states, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Session’s mindfulness of the needs of our world has brought them to begin building a team which will help COTC gather information about educational opportunities which focus not on blame, but on learning as we expand our mindfulness of what it means to follow the Good Shepherd who tells us, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
Session has made a $5,000 financial commitment in our budget this year to help the Amos 5:24 Team learn about what it means to actually participate in justice advocacy for those who experience oppression and injustice of every nature; to engage in learning for the whole congregational; to open to the congregation attendance at community seminars, and possibly even give direct support and/or hands-on help for an organization or two. But first, we need a team. One person has made a commitment to participate in this work, but as we all know ‘one person does not a team make.’
Please spend some time in prayer with God! Be mindful in your prayer life as to how God might be asking you to join in stretching COTC’s awareness of the people in our own local community who face these challenges every day. Pray about how you can bring hope in the name of Jesus by joining the Amos 5:24 Team. And when the Spirit does guide you to join, please give me a call.
Mindful of our need for a new pianist/organist, the Hiring Team has now resumed its search. Besides advertising online, a Facebook ad has been placed on our COTC page, the Presbytery of Chicago Connect e-news will include our open position each week, and several local colleges and high schools have been contacted about any possible staff or students who might be interested. Again, we need you to mindfully pray for the team and for the applicant God has already selected to become aware of our opening. Quoting Sirach 37:15 (NRS) “But above all, pray to the Most High that he may direct your way in truth.”
Know, dear COTC, that I too am mindfully praying for each of you and our congregation as we learn how God wants us, today, to bring hope in the name of Jesus, the Risen Christ!
Blessed Eastertide everyone,
Pastor Julie
Dearly Beloved Children of God!
As we approach the month of May, I find myself pondering the blossoming of the earth around us and how in this new time of our history COTC will also begin blossoming. I’m reminded of the Psalmist’s song to God…
What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion. We will fulfill our vows to you, for you answer our prayers. All of us must come to you. Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all. What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts. What festivities await us inside your holy Temple. You faithfully answer our prayers with awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail on distant seas. You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty strength. You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations. Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy. You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so. You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops. You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy! (Psalm 65 ~ NLT)
I’m drawn into the Psalmist’s repetition of “You…” calling forth God’s attentiveness for God’s creation—human and otherwise. This attentiveness calls me to consider our own attentiveness as we begin to return to our building and renew our person-to-person relationships. Are there those who are not yet comfortable? Are we reaching out to them? How has our faithfulness blossomed in the midst of a pandemic? Where have we discovered an expansion of our relationships because of the pandemic? How will we maintain those relationships as we return to many in-person activities?
Mindfulness in our actions, undertakings, and decisions is important to the health, well-being, and faithfulness of our congregation. God’s mindfulness of us is assured elsewhere in the Psalms. A reminder of our own need for mindfulness toward others.
Psalm 8:4 – “…what are human beings that you are mindful of them…”
Psalm 25:6 – “Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.”
Psalm 115:12 – “The LORD has been mindful of us; he will bless us… “
Psalm 111:5 – “…he is ever mindful of his covenant…”
Being mindful in all we do as we move into a new era in our history will bring new blessings, and new challenges as we seek to keep our covenant with God. Mindfulness will require us to stretch even as we regain some sort of new normal. Mindfulness will ask us to do things in new ways.
That being said, I see mindfulness already happening here at COTC. So let’s start with some outdoors mindfulness.
At the last Corp Ops meeting, the group were mindfully aware there are some things needing to be done to maintain our property which are beyond our abilities and expertise. As such, they are searching for a COTC handy person to help us with those things. Charlie is organizing the remaining work for us to participate in. Concurrently with Charlie… the COTC Garden Committee is planning a planting day—one which includes both COTC members AND a couple of families from the community. BOTH of these will be held on the same day – May 22nd from 9 am to noon. What a great way to bring people together!!
AND, knowing some of us are challenged to engage in physical labor, I am asking you to mindfully make the decision to still stop by. Just having your presence to take pictures, cheer the workers on, and meet our neighbors is all the reason needed to stop by and say hello! And, you just might be the one to get the best pictures for us to share! You will not want to miss this opportunity for some great fellowship!!
Previously, I have mentioned the Amos 5:24 team birthed at a Session meeting. The passage from Amos 5:24 states, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
Session’s mindfulness of the needs of our world has brought them to begin building a team which will help COTC gather information about educational opportunities which focus not on blame, but on learning as we expand our mindfulness of what it means to follow the Good Shepherd who tells us, “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
Session has made a $5,000 financial commitment in our budget this year to help the Amos 5:24 Team learn about what it means to actually participate in justice advocacy for those who experience oppression and injustice of every nature; to engage in learning for the whole congregational; to open to the congregation attendance at community seminars, and possibly even give direct support and/or hands-on help for an organization or two. But first, we need a team. One person has made a commitment to participate in this work, but as we all know ‘one person does not a team make.’
Please spend some time in prayer with God! Be mindful in your prayer life as to how God might be asking you to join in stretching COTC’s awareness of the people in our own local community who face these challenges every day. Pray about how you can bring hope in the name of Jesus by joining the Amos 5:24 Team. And when the Spirit does guide you to join, please give me a call.
Mindful of our need for a new pianist/organist, the Hiring Team has now resumed its search. Besides advertising online, a Facebook ad has been placed on our COTC page, the Presbytery of Chicago Connect e-news will include our open position each week, and several local colleges and high schools have been contacted about any possible staff or students who might be interested. Again, we need you to mindfully pray for the team and for the applicant God has already selected to become aware of our opening. Quoting Sirach 37:15 (NRS) “But above all, pray to the Most High that he may direct your way in truth.”
Know, dear COTC, that I too am mindfully praying for each of you and our congregation as we learn how God wants us, today, to bring hope in the name of Jesus, the Risen Christ!
Blessed Eastertide everyone,
Pastor Julie
Donations and Pledges
Please consider making a donation or pledge via our online Donate page, or mail in a check to our address listed below. Despite our building being closed due to the pandemic, your donations continue to support the ongoing ministry of COTC which is beginning to take on new opportunities to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ!
In quickly moving times, we are dedicated to ‘walking together’ through these difficult days, so here are a couple of other opportunities to help those in need:
Zoom Gatherings
Connecting in this time of physical distancing is vital to our remaining connected in life giving ways. Zoom Gatherings can be accessed with a computer, a tablet, a smart phone, or by calling in on your regular phone. We gather every week on Tuesdays at 11 am; and Thursdays at 9 am. Contact Pastor Julie for Zoom sign-in information.
Please consider making a donation or pledge via our online Donate page, or mail in a check to our address listed below. Despite our building being closed due to the pandemic, your donations continue to support the ongoing ministry of COTC which is beginning to take on new opportunities to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ!
In quickly moving times, we are dedicated to ‘walking together’ through these difficult days, so here are a couple of other opportunities to help those in need:
- The Schaumburg Senior Barn may be able to help seniors who are in need of food. Their number is: 847-524-7496.
- The Schaumburg Food pantry continues to be in desperate need. Here is how you can help:
- The Schaumburg Food Pantry is taking curbside donations on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 am to 1 pm. Please take donations directly to their location at: 1 Illinois Blvd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169
- Donate to the Township Food Pantry through our Amazon wish list! Simply follow this link, order our most needed items and ship them to our building at One Illinois Blvd, Hoffman Estates. Their wish list can be found here: https://amzn.to/2MJXMpk
Zoom Gatherings
Connecting in this time of physical distancing is vital to our remaining connected in life giving ways. Zoom Gatherings can be accessed with a computer, a tablet, a smart phone, or by calling in on your regular phone. We gather every week on Tuesdays at 11 am; and Thursdays at 9 am. Contact Pastor Julie for Zoom sign-in information.
Wednesday Noon Lunch Bible Study
We are resuming our weekly bible study. EVERYONE is invited to join us!! Contact Pastor Julie for Zoom sign-in information. Here is the schedule of dates and passages we will be discussing:
Online donations is now available! Click here to donate to our General Fund, Memorial Fund, Deacons Fund or Major Maintenance Fund. If you need instructions, click on the Donate menu option at the top of the screen.
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