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July 22, 2020
Grace and Peace be to you!
Friends, thank you for submitting your survey answers regarding returning to worship in the building. They were highly informative for Session as they discern when and how to move forward. At the July 21st Session meeting, a tentative date to return to worship in the sanctuary was set for August 30th. At the August 18th meeting, Session will review the status of the pandemic here in Illinois and will either confirm the date or postpone it. We will most certainly let you know!
Returning to gathering again in the sanctuary for worship is exciting. And yet, we are all aware it will not be a return to what was before the pandemic. We will be following important guidelines for reducing risk as much as possible with the standard required mask, social distancing, etc. As we get closer, I’ll share the outline of those requirements—many of which the Worship Team will have in place prior to our re-entry.
In the meantime, we have people and a world to pray for and with as we engage the difficulties of these days. While we remain out of the building, COTC continues faithfully in ministry for our community. Volunteers continue to work diligently in the garden—providing a wonderful bounty of produce to the Schaumburg Food Pantry. Just this week, additional neighbors have stopped by to check out the garden—the word is spreading as much as the vegetables! The Deacons sent $150 to WINGS for their work with women and children in need of safety. Session approved $200 to support and partner with former member, Kayla Emmerling, in her work with the Global Youth Foundation; and we continue to worship in Spirit through the gift of technology. Click here for the flyer for the Schaumburg Township Pack the Bus event, for your consideration as we enter a school year with many families trying to make ends meet. May we all find ways to serve our community.
A couple of other Session highlights include—the 60th Anniversary celebration has been postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic; the Nominating Team is beginning its work for the upcoming new classes of Deacons and Elders; the baptism of Oliver Nieweem (son of Katia and Kurt) was approved for a date yet to be determined; the lower level kitchen island counter-top has been replace; and I have been asked to take on the role of Commission on Ministry Moderator beginning in January, which I have accepted.
For your pondering this week, I’ve been reading Brian McLaren’s book, The Road We Make By Walking. Chapter 49 talks about judgment—noting that judgment in biblical times was more than condemnation or punishment. Good judges worked to set things right, to restore balance, harmony, and well-being. Their justice was restorative, not just punitive, focusing on “putting wrong things right.” Which means more than saying everything which can be punished will be punished—it means everything which can be restored will be restored.
1 John 3:1-3 touches on this restoration and ‘putting wrong things right’ in its conversation of hope and purifying ourselves. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! … Dear friends, now we are child of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in them purify themselves, just as God is pure.” (McLaren’s translation)
McLaren goes on to talk about this hope. “…this hope changes the way we see trials and difficulties in this life. If we see trials and difficulties not as a punishment for our wrongs, but as refining fire to strengthen and purify, us, trials become our friends, not our enemies. In this light, delay is like a fire which burns away our impatience. Annoyances are like flames which burn away our selfishness. The demands of duty are the degrees of heat which burn away our laziness. The unkind words and deeds of others are like a furnace in which our character is tempered, until we learn to bless, not curse, in response.”
As we continue through these days of pandemic and unrest and not (yet) being able to gather in person, let us put our hope in God’s great “setting things right.” Let us keep steadfast in our work, seeking to live this hope of justice and peace and “putting wrong things right” as we keep moving forward with the Spirit leading us in God’s long arc toward restoration and healing. “Life is not easy. We are never alone. In the end all will be well.” (McLaren)
Please pray with me…
Help us, Spirit of Life. We are tired, weak, worn. Unsure of how to pray in these upside-down times, when the needs so far outstrip the seemingly paltry collection of words we have with which to articulate them. What we think we know gets upended daily–often from one moment to the next–each conversation and headline contradicting the last, each new piece of information increasing our angst exponentially.
When we can’t see the good, when nothing seems to be working, when we feel conquered, separated, troubled, alone and in peril, starved for connection, naked and vulnerable, remind us, Holy One, nothing separates us from your love. Remind us the arc of your love expands beyond our vision. Remind us your justice bends toward restoration and reconciliation and ‘putting wrong things right.’ Remind us the Hope of the world came down to be at our side. Remind us these current trials can and will strengthen us in our mission to do and be your love.
Always for us–your heart ever tuned to ours cries–you gather our tears, our sighs, our groaning, our laments and hold them close, tending, honoring, and blessing each one. In confidence and hope, trusting in your merciful presence, we offer our hearts and lives back to you, Holy One, in worship and in praise. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Julie
Grace and Peace be to you!
Friends, thank you for submitting your survey answers regarding returning to worship in the building. They were highly informative for Session as they discern when and how to move forward. At the July 21st Session meeting, a tentative date to return to worship in the sanctuary was set for August 30th. At the August 18th meeting, Session will review the status of the pandemic here in Illinois and will either confirm the date or postpone it. We will most certainly let you know!
Returning to gathering again in the sanctuary for worship is exciting. And yet, we are all aware it will not be a return to what was before the pandemic. We will be following important guidelines for reducing risk as much as possible with the standard required mask, social distancing, etc. As we get closer, I’ll share the outline of those requirements—many of which the Worship Team will have in place prior to our re-entry.
In the meantime, we have people and a world to pray for and with as we engage the difficulties of these days. While we remain out of the building, COTC continues faithfully in ministry for our community. Volunteers continue to work diligently in the garden—providing a wonderful bounty of produce to the Schaumburg Food Pantry. Just this week, additional neighbors have stopped by to check out the garden—the word is spreading as much as the vegetables! The Deacons sent $150 to WINGS for their work with women and children in need of safety. Session approved $200 to support and partner with former member, Kayla Emmerling, in her work with the Global Youth Foundation; and we continue to worship in Spirit through the gift of technology. Click here for the flyer for the Schaumburg Township Pack the Bus event, for your consideration as we enter a school year with many families trying to make ends meet. May we all find ways to serve our community.
A couple of other Session highlights include—the 60th Anniversary celebration has been postponed indefinitely due to the pandemic; the Nominating Team is beginning its work for the upcoming new classes of Deacons and Elders; the baptism of Oliver Nieweem (son of Katia and Kurt) was approved for a date yet to be determined; the lower level kitchen island counter-top has been replace; and I have been asked to take on the role of Commission on Ministry Moderator beginning in January, which I have accepted.
For your pondering this week, I’ve been reading Brian McLaren’s book, The Road We Make By Walking. Chapter 49 talks about judgment—noting that judgment in biblical times was more than condemnation or punishment. Good judges worked to set things right, to restore balance, harmony, and well-being. Their justice was restorative, not just punitive, focusing on “putting wrong things right.” Which means more than saying everything which can be punished will be punished—it means everything which can be restored will be restored.
1 John 3:1-3 touches on this restoration and ‘putting wrong things right’ in its conversation of hope and purifying ourselves. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! … Dear friends, now we are child of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in them purify themselves, just as God is pure.” (McLaren’s translation)
McLaren goes on to talk about this hope. “…this hope changes the way we see trials and difficulties in this life. If we see trials and difficulties not as a punishment for our wrongs, but as refining fire to strengthen and purify, us, trials become our friends, not our enemies. In this light, delay is like a fire which burns away our impatience. Annoyances are like flames which burn away our selfishness. The demands of duty are the degrees of heat which burn away our laziness. The unkind words and deeds of others are like a furnace in which our character is tempered, until we learn to bless, not curse, in response.”
As we continue through these days of pandemic and unrest and not (yet) being able to gather in person, let us put our hope in God’s great “setting things right.” Let us keep steadfast in our work, seeking to live this hope of justice and peace and “putting wrong things right” as we keep moving forward with the Spirit leading us in God’s long arc toward restoration and healing. “Life is not easy. We are never alone. In the end all will be well.” (McLaren)
Please pray with me…
Help us, Spirit of Life. We are tired, weak, worn. Unsure of how to pray in these upside-down times, when the needs so far outstrip the seemingly paltry collection of words we have with which to articulate them. What we think we know gets upended daily–often from one moment to the next–each conversation and headline contradicting the last, each new piece of information increasing our angst exponentially.
When we can’t see the good, when nothing seems to be working, when we feel conquered, separated, troubled, alone and in peril, starved for connection, naked and vulnerable, remind us, Holy One, nothing separates us from your love. Remind us the arc of your love expands beyond our vision. Remind us your justice bends toward restoration and reconciliation and ‘putting wrong things right.’ Remind us the Hope of the world came down to be at our side. Remind us these current trials can and will strengthen us in our mission to do and be your love.
Always for us–your heart ever tuned to ours cries–you gather our tears, our sighs, our groaning, our laments and hold them close, tending, honoring, and blessing each one. In confidence and hope, trusting in your merciful presence, we offer our hearts and lives back to you, Holy One, in worship and in praise. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Julie
Worship Live-Streamed
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 May 3rd worship service, so be sure to have your bread and cup ready to go!
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.
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:
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 May 3rd worship service, so be sure to have your bread and cup ready to go!
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:
- 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. 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:
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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