Join us for Worship on Sundays @ 10 am.
 




We are on Facebook and in-person!
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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! ​
March 23, 2021
 
Dearly Beloved Children of God!

I write today with so many things to share with you, so please read through this whole letter or you might miss something really important! 

Initially, I want to remind you of our Holy Week Worship services:
  • Palm Sunday @ 10:00 am
  • Maundy Thursday @ 7:00 pm w/The Lord’s Supper
  • Good Friday Meditation @ 2:00 pm (pre-recorded and online only)
  • Easter Sunday @ 10:00 am w/The Lord’s Supper and Coffee Hour immediately following worship
Yes, you read that correctly.  We will hold a ‘pared down’ Coffee Hour after worship on Easter Sunday.  Goodies will be pre-packaged, and coffee will be available (along with a lot of hand sanitizer).  The lounge tables will be spread out to accommodate necessary spacing.  Session took this action, knowing vaccinations are becoming more widespread, and knowing many of our own members have already been vaccinated.  If you are not comfortable with attending, we deeply respect your decision and pray for the time when all will, once again, feel comfortable gathering in fellowship.
 
Next, I have some Deacon information to share with you! 
  • Sunday, March 28th, is the deadline for:
  1. socks and toiletry donations,
  2. as well as monetary donations for ‘food baskets’ for families of Lakeview Elementary School. 
  3.  As has been the new norm since covid struck, the ‘food baskets’ will be Aldi’s gift cards for families of Lakeview Elementary School. 
  •    Our Community Garden planning is on the cusp of active engagement, so the Garden Team needs to know if you are interested.  Please contact Judie T, if you would like to be a part of planting seeds and harvesting the produce (along with plenty of watering and weeding along the way).
 
 Session also has some news to share with you!
  • At the March 16th Session meeting, Session formally approved the formation of the Amos Group.  The name is taken from this passage in the Book of Amos (5:24), “let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”  
  1. Session is seeking individuals who are passionate about justice advocate work with those who experience oppression and injustice—people of color, LGBTQ individuals/families, and any who face prejudicial obstacles as they seek to live and thrive in life. 
  2. If you are interested in this work and passionate about helping COTC learn to become better advocates, please contact me directly. 
  3.  We are looking for about 5-7 people, who can help guide COTC into living the heart of this scripture passage.
  • From Personnel, Youjin Bang has resigned as of the day after Easter Sunday for personal reasons.  But rest assured, we already have a team of interviewers who have met with two people (and possibly more to come) for our keyboardist/organist position.  We give deep thanks to Youjin for her time with us as we have genuinely enjoyed her presence and her music. 
  • We also deeply thank Marie for her continued extra effort above and beyond to ensure we have music to fill our souls, our hearts, and our voices. 
  • In all of this, I ask you to pray--
  1. for Youjin as she turns to other activities,
  2. for prayers of thanksgiving for Marie’s efforts,
  3. and for God to reveal to our interview team the musician God already has in mind for COTC.
 
Lastly, I want to share that Jeff and I will be on vacation from April 5th through April 19th.   
Emergency pastoral care coverage will be available, so if you do have a need for pastoral care, please contact any Deacon or Elder.
  • On April 11th, Stu T will be our worship leader. 
  1. The Presbytery of Chicago is providing most of the various pieces of our worship service, including music and The Rev. Laura Cheifetz will be our preacher.  Rev. Cheifetz, is the Dean of Admissions, Vocation, and Stewardship at Vanderbilt Divinity School.  She is an ordained PCUSA Minister. 
  2. You may be interested to know she recently wrote an opinion article for CNN in the aftermath of the attack Asian people in Atlanta, GA.  Here is the link if you are interested in reading that article:  https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/20/opinions/asian-american-racism-violence-wellness/index.html?fbclid=IwAR1Ky5qcM7woAxWEYjGUn8_XwGvjRM0mJAhUlM5hNG8AcWIZd2SnV-dGeRY
  • On April 18th, Cathy W will be our worship leader. 
  1. Our COTC choir ‘voices’ will provide the music.
  2. Thank you to Jane L who will do the vocal editing in my absence.
  3. Our preacher will be The Rev. Ken Hockenberry, Stated Clerk and Interim Business Director of the Chicago Presbytery.
 
Beloved Children of God, as we enter Holy Week, may our hearts be filled with a heightened awareness of God’s deep piercing love for us.  The journey is hard.  The love is real.  Salvation is assured through our Lord, Jesus the Christ. 
“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.”  (1 John 3:1)
 
​Thanks be to God!

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: 
  • 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:
  1. 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
  2. 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. Wish list 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:
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