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Pastor's NotesAdvancing God's Love and Justice

Greetings Friends,I recently watched, “The Greatest Showman,” a re-imagining of P.T. Barnum’s story. In real life, Barnumwas a fairly accomplished scoundrel. He manipulatedtruth so much, it was hard to tell the differencebetween reality and illusion when he spoke. Heexploited people and animals. He exploited a slavewoman. There is a lot to critique about his actualstory.

But the movie tells a different story—a flawed, butultimately heroic figure, who gives people a chance tobe themselves and to earn notoriety in spite ofnegative societal stereotypes. And frankly, the musicis great. (If you haven’t seen the movie, you may haveseen a performance of “This Is Me” on this year’sOscars ceremony.)

The question is, is it a good thing or a bad thing toretell history like this, take out the unsavory parts, andpaint people as heroes who in real life, were quitedifferent?

In this particular case, the movie is a great story. It’swell written, well produced, and well performed.

Pentecost SundaySERMON“UnexpectedComprehension"SCRIPTUREActs: 2:1-21LITURGISTSSusan McNeal BulakGene WollastonCHILDREN'S TIMECatherine RossGREETERSPat SwindleJonathan SwindleUSHER TEAM LEADERDale BrysonFLOWERSThe Hus family, in celebrationof Gabrielle Winslow's and BenHus's graduation

Those things all have merit in and of themselves.Should we be concerned that some will see thismovie, and not do any research on who P.T. Barnumreally was? Maybe. I know that before the movie waseven over, I googled its historical accuracy. (I waswatching from our family room couch, not botheringpeople in a theater, for the record.)

To be honest, much of the Bible consists of storiesthat existed before they were written down. Evenwhen they were written down, in many cases, originalmanuscripts are not identical. Translators, historians,and theologians have to make choices, educatedthough they may be, about which words to publish inour Bibles. These choices have consequences, andchange the meaning of texts, sometimes dramatically.But these choices are made even from those whowrote biblical texts, according to the traditions theycame from. (Just read the four Gospels—they don’tusually tell the same story in the same way. Even ifthe differences are subtle, they are there.)

We are ultimately left with our own judgment, our ownhistories, our own ideas, about how to interpret thestories we encounter, be they sacred or secular. Oneof my favorite scholars, Marcus Borg, was fond ofquoting a Native American story teller, who prefacedhis stories by saying “I don’t know if this storyhappened just this way, or not. But I know this story istrue.”

So, I wish you blessings in your search for truth. Mayyou sense the presence of the Holy, guiding your way,and illuminating Wisdom in the stories you encounter.

Grace and peace,Mark

Attention Graduates andFamilies of Graduates

Wed. May 167:00 p.m. PADS (CommunityRoom)Thurs. May 1710:00 a.m. Men's Discussion(Library)7:30 p.m. Chancel ChoirRehearsal (CommunityRoom)Sat. May 19Electronics Recycling(Community Room)Sun. May 20Electronics Recycling(Community Room)8:30 a.m. CE MinistryMeeting (Fireside Room)8:45 a.m. Missions MinistryMeeting (Library)10:00 a.m. Worship /Pentecost Sunday /Strengthen the ChurchOffering10:15 a.m. Last SundaySchool classes11:15 a.m. Town Meeting(Sanctuary)1:00 p.m.DuPage RiverClean Sweep (DorotheaWeigand Riverfront Park)2:30 p.m. ACE Meeting(Community Room)2:30 p.m. Matt Sell MemorialService (FirstCongregational DeKalb)Mon. May 217:00 p.m. Women's Spiritualgathering (Library)Tues. May 227:30 p.m. Trustees Meeting(Library)Wed. May 237:00 p.m. PADS (CommunityRoom)Sun. May 2710:00 a.m. WorshipMon. May 28Memorial Day - ChurchOffice Closed

We plan to recognize those who are graduating thisyear from high school, college, or graduate school.Please submit names of graduates, the school fromwhich they're graduating, and the degree (ifappropriate) to Barbara in our church office by May24. Thanks!

Congratulations to Diane Herr!Diane has been named one of the 2018 honorees ofthe Illinois Conference Chalice Award. Recipients ofthis award “are recognized as servants of Christ andthe Church, who have demonstrated exemplaryleadership, extending self to others, and making asignificant impact on the ministry and witness of theIllinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, asan extension of God’s love in Christ Jesus, Head ofthe Church.”

Diane has been involved in justice ministry in theconference for a long time, and we are so proud tocall her one of our own!

Congratulations Diane!

Strengthen the Church OfferingThis Sunday, May 20The Strengthen the Church offering supports theexpansion of ministry and growth of UCC localcongregations. Your support of this offering will helpthe UCC fulfill its commitment to creating a just worldfor all by investing in new ministries and practices thatmeet the emerging needs of local communities. AsGod calls our congregations to be the church in newways, your generosity will plant new churches,awaken new ideas in existing churches and developthe spiritual life in our youth and young adults. Pleasebe generous!

May 17Alek Van EeuwenMay 22Linda EiflerMay 25Joe LatorreChris FlemingMay 26Chris FarthingMay 29Steve HyettKennedy SobolMay 30Dave MarchmanMay 31Lauren MitchellLorelei DayJune 2Tiffany OkenJune 3Connor FlynnJune 4Jim FancherAndrew DayJune 6Jeff Van EeuwenJune 7Joyce TrierJune 8Bev ParkerJack BishelJune 10Bev GeorgeJune 11June HennipJune 13Jack CannonMelissa Nordsieck

Town Meeting This Sunday, May 20Please plan to attend the Town Meeting after worshipservice this Sunday, May 20 at 11:15 a.m. in thesanctuary. This meeting is to discuss the upcomingwork on the sanctuary roof and tuck pointing, as wellas the fundraiser being planned to pay for it.

Make It a Clean Sweep!Join us this Sunday, May 20 for the DuPage RiverClean Sweep. We’ll be meeting at 1:00 p.m. atDorothea Weigand Riverfront Park (2436 S.Washington St., close to where Washington andNaper Blvd. meet). This is an "all generation" event -young to old! Gloves and trash bags will be supplied.Questions? Contact Susan Greenwood.

ACE Meeting This Sunday, May 20Join ACE members at the monthly meeting to hearabout renewable energy for the future - as a cleanenergy source, as an energy saver, and as a sourcefor jobs for the future. The meeting will be thisSunday, May 20 in the Community room from 2:30until 4:30 p.m. All are welcome.

Annual Electronics Recycling WeekendThis Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20,9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon - Both Days!It’s our annual Electronics Recycling Weekend. A $5donation goes to our purchase of renewable energyfrom the City of Naperville!

Lost and FoundOn Sundays (or even during the week), please take amoment to visit the coat room off the narthex to see if

you are missing any coats, scarves, etc. Right now,seven coats/jackets are hanging on the coat racks,and a wicker box is loaded with hats, mittens, etc.These items will remain in the coat room until May 31.Thanks!

Please Host A May Coffee Hour We need Coffee Hour hosts for May 20 and 27. Hosting isn't a lot of work, and detailed instructions are provided. Help is also

provided, should you need it! You can sign up here! Please consider helping! Thanks!

Imagine Their Smiles...From the front of the church, you can actually see thesmiles and enthusiasm of our youth. We have sixsummer dates open for volunteers to lead Children'sTime. Our goal is to familiarize our youth with theadults of the church. Please contact Terry Giese tochoose your date and get more information. Summeris a great time to get your feet wet!

Open dates: June 3, June 17, July 1, July 29,September 2 and September 9.

Want to Make a Difference?We are looking for people to sign-up to lead SummerSunday school. In order to simplify Summer Sundayschool, the CE Ministry will have all activities pre-planned and materials ready to go, so no advancepreparation is required for teachers! There will beactivities for younger and older kids to keep all agesinterested. Some Sundays will be designated as artsand crafts, others will be focused on games or outside

fun with rain day back-up plans. CE will have ageappropriate coloring sheets, word scrambles, andother materials to supplement the main activity asneeded. Please see Denise if you are interested inteaching, or sign-up in the Community room. On thesign-up sheet, you will see the date and type ofactivity planned for each Sunday.

CrayolaColorCycleCrayola offers arecycling program

called Crayola ColorCycle – an amazing new programdevised to turn used markers into energy! Themarkers will be sent to a facility where they will beconverted into clean fuel. This fuel can be used topower vehicles, heat homes, cook meals and more! The Crayola ColorCycle program can keep tons ofplastic out of landfills each year.

To support the efforts to recycle, drop off anyused markers you may have around the house –even non-Crayola brands – outside the churchoffice. Remember, don’t throw out that used marker—ColorCycle it!

Dream BigDream Big Performing Arts, one of our tenants thissummer at the church, is hosting four differentsummer camps in June and July for children ages 7-12.

Themes include Hamilton Fanatics, Star Wars, Moanaand A Wrinkle in Time. As this is their first timehosting camps at FCC, they would like to offer aspecial discount code to families of the congregation.

Use code DREAMBIG18 to receive 10% off the campprice here.

Green Team Tip: While it’s best toavoid plastic food storage containersaltogether, there are safer choices ifyou can’t make the switch to glass orstainless steel. Look at the bottom of

your plastic food storage containers and if they have a#2, #4 or #5, those are generally recognized as safefor food and drink. If any of your containers have a #3,#6 or #7, those should be disposed of because theyare considered high-risk plastics.

Community LifeConnections: Yearning to make adifference? Ask about helping withPADS, or Green Team, Christian

Education, or start a group to share your passion!

Summer Publication of the LeafletThe Leaflet newsletter will be published on thefollowing dates: May 21, May 29, June 11, June 25,July 9, July 23, August 6,and will resume weeklypublication on August 20. Don’t forget - articles needto be in the church office no later than Mondays at10:00 a.m.

Our StaffRev. Mark Winters, MinisterDenise Majewski, Christian Education CoordinatorChristopher Lorimer, Director of Music MinistrySue Flaatten, OrganistBarbara Bailey, Secretary

Kathy Clolinger, Bookkeeper

Lay LeadersChris Farthing, ModeratorRichard Trezona, Moderator-ElectCheryl Newman and Jessie Winters, A Joyful Sound!Laura Kopff, ChimeringersDeb Zelman, Spirit BandTom George, Stephen Ministry Leader

Contact Us630-355-1024 / 630-355-1072 - faxchurchoffice@loveandjustice.orgwww.loveandjustice.orgFacebook: First Congregational UCC of Naperville, IL

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