Winnetka Covenant Church Network

The Network June, 2019

Inside this issue:

Summer Events ............... 2

Graduates, Campers, Youth News .................... 3 Trustee Notes .................. 4 Mission Opportunities……………5 Women Ministries, Memoirs Upcoming Events ........... 6 Mailbox, Family News and Miscellaneous ........ 7 VBS ................................... 8

June 2

All-Church Picnic

June 16

Beach Service

June 18 - 20

VBS

June 22 - 29

Mission Trip

Reflections on a Year Dear friends, As I sit down to write this letter, I’m aware that it is ten months to the day since I started here, as Pastor of Congregational Life. In that time, I’ve experienced a full program year of Sunday School and Wednesday nights, of staff meetings and board meetings and committee meetings, of special events like Lucia, and the Rummage Sale. I made a list, earlier today, of some major events that have gone on in the life of our church over those last ten months: the incredible start to Refuel with a cookout and antique cars, the Harvest Dinner with Dimitri and his colleagues providing us with an amazing medley of famous duets. The smorgasbord in December, and the flurry of retreats in January and February – so many groups hitting the road for time away; for fellowship, worship, and fun. I reflected on Pastor Pete’s sabbatical and what a joy it was to welcome him and Bonnie back into our midst, even as we thanked Luke Knotts for his years of service and welcomed Tom Johnson onto staff as our new facility manager. Of course, next to that list, I could write another very different one: all the things that have gone on in my life outside of ministry. I could write down how in October I brought home a wonderful, rambunctious rescue dog, Zoe, who has chewed up all my television remotes but still made her way into my heart forever. I could tell you about the months when I had family and friends come to town, and what a delight it was to ready the guest bedroom for them (something I’ve never been able to do before!), to share with them Lou Malnati’s deep dish pizza and debate the merits of their butter crust versus Giordano’s stuffed crust. I could mark January as the first time I ever paid a hundred dollars for a Lyft ride, to get me to Milwaukee so I could fly away from the polar vortex and into sunny Austin for a weekend with seminary friends. And all of you could do the same, I know. You could tell me about all the ways you’ve been part of church, and it has been part of you, over the course of the year. Of all the things inside and outside of these walls that have shaped you. You have stories, so many stories, about this past year, and all that has gone on in it. But there’s a third story, and I want to spend some time with it, before it gets lost in the happy chaos of summer. It’s a story of how God has been at work in and through all of the things on my lists. What God has been doing in my heart, what God has been teaching me, as I went to those committee meetings and made up beds for my visitors. What holy whispers I’ve heard in the early morning as Zoe and I are out walking, and in the quiet of the sanctuary after everyone has gone home on Sunday. I can’t tell that story in its entirety yet, but here’s a start. I have learned that on a Wednesday night when I’m feeling a little bit far from home, there’s nothing as healing as walking into the gym for dinner, hearing children laugh, smelling delicious food, and seeing friends around the tables. (continued, page 2)

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(cont’d. from page 1) That I learn more about faith and hope from the residents of Covenant Village than I ever have in a theology textbook. That when the news is bleak and the skies are grey for the twentieth day in a row, it is the light of Christ which shines in each one of you that brings me back to myself. It’s just the start of a story, but I’m going to keep learning it, and telling it. And I hope you will take some time, this season, to reflect on yours, so you too can share it with the world. We need it. With gratitude for each of you and hope for the season ahead, Jen Christianson

Summer at Winnetka Covenant Church

Worship service at church each week at 10:00 a.m.

Early services at the beach 5 Sundays during the summer.

Listed below are opportunities for fellowship throughout the summer.

All events are free, look for WCC folks there.

Sunday Evening Fellowship

Sundays, 6 p.m. – Bring a picnic and lawn chairs.

June 30 at Pete & Melissa Nelson’s July 14 at Pete & Bonnie Hawkinson’s August 18 at Cam & Linnea Johnson’s

Early Morning Worship Services at the Beach 8:00 a.m., at the southern end of the beach of Gillson Park near the Wilmette Harbor. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on.

Sunday, June 16 Sunday, July 7 Sunday, July 21 Sunday, August 4 Sunday, August 18

All-Church Picnic – Sunday, June 2 Immediately following church on our front lawn. Food will be provided. Please bring a blanket or lawn chairs. There will be a Bounce House for the children (and the young at heart).

Wednesday Night Walking June 12 – August 21, Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Walkers meet at the bench outside the Glenview Senior Center, 2400 Chestnut Ave., Glenview. Walk at your own pace with friends around the beautiful Gallery Park. Music on the Steps

On the front steps of the church, bring a picnic and gather with others at 6:00 p.m., music begins at 7:00

Wednesday, July 17 – The Prairie Brass Band

Wednesday, August 7 – Glenview Concert Band

Gatherings in various area parks –

Friday, June 7 - “Spiderman” movie, at dusk at Hubbard Woods Park, 939 Green Bay Road in Winnetka. Gathering at 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, June 22 – 5:30 p.m. – Young Families Picnic at Gillson Park in Wilmette, joined later by others for a concert by an ABBA Tribute Band at the Wallace Bowl in Gillson Park. Bring a picnic and gather at 7:00 p.m. Concert begins at 8:00 p.m.

Friday, August 2 – “SPAMALOT” at the Wallace Bowl in Gillson Park. Gathering at 7:00, show begins at 8:00.

Tuesday, August 13 – “First Man” movie at dusk at Dawes Park, Sheridan at Church Street in Evanston. Gathering around 7:00 p.m. for fellowship before the movie.

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Youth Ministry Summer Events Monday, June 17th: Six Flags, 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Both Jr. & Sr. High Wednesday, July 10th: Community Covenant Church, Minneapolis MN, is visiting us at church, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Sr. High Tuesday, July 23rd: Putt-Putt Golf & Lunch at the Bunny Hutch, 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. Jr. High Monday, July 29th: Six Flags, 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.. Both Jr. & Sr. High Wednesday, August 7th: Gillson Beach Picnic, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Sr. High Thursday, August 15th: Church BBQ, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Jr. High Jr. High Students are incoming 6th graders – 9th graders Sr. High Students are income 9th graders – graduating Seniors Stay tuned to your email inbox for information about additional events happening this summer. To be added to the Youth Ministry Email Groups, contact Pastor Joel.

High School Graduates We congratulate our High School seniors who are graduating this spring. They are:

• Micah Bowe, who graduates from New Trier High School on June 2nd. After working at Covenant Point this summer as the camp photographer, Micah will take a gap year, which will include a wilderness leadership semester with Outward Bound, working at REI, and taking courses at Oakton Community College.

• Annabelle Fogel, graduating from Glenbrook South High School on June 2. She plans to attend Oakton Community College in the fall, majoring in acting.

• Annie Isabella Hoglund, who also graduates from New Trier High School on June 2nd. She will be attending IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis), pursuing a Nursing degree.

• Hannah Kelly, graduating from Loyola Academy on May 25. Hannah will attend the University of South Carolina, majoring in International Business and Marketing.

• Macallister Rescorl is another June 2nd graduate of New Trier High School. In the fall she will attend the University of Chicago and study film and social policy.

• IngMarie Schultz will graduate on June 2nd from Glenbrook South High School. From August, 2019 – May 2020 she will attend the Ronning Folk High School in Oslo, Norway. The following year she will enter the Nursing program at North Park University.

• Christopher Wood, also a June 2nd graduate of New Trier High School. He will attend the Kelly Business School at Indiana University in the fall.

Best wishes to each of these young adults as they embark on a new chapter of their lives.

Summer Campers

We ask for your prayers for our congregation members who will be attending one of our camps this summer. Please pray for their safety, for fun, and for a deepening relationship with Jesus. They are:

Covenant Harbor: Grace Bowen, Tessa Bowen, Annabelle Fogel, Hailey Fogel, Ethan Fogel

Covenant Point: Ellie Bassett, Harrison Bernover, Cole Bramley, Drew Bramley, Violet Bramley, Harper Breidenbach, Isabella Ecklund, Ryan Geake, Makeda Hausman, Gabby Heintzelman, Jonathan Heintzelman, Gwen Johnson, Maeve Johnson, Naomi Johnson, Nat Johnson, Sonja Johnson, Kira McClellan, Owen McClellan, Esther Milbratz, Sarah Milbratz, Madeleine Ryan,

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Trustee Notes Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. Matthew 5:41-42

Max Lucado writes about The Society of the Second Mile in his book Every Day Deserves a Chance:

“We have a second-mile servant in our church. By profession he is an architect. By passion, a servant. He arrives an hour or so prior to each worship service and makes his rounds through the men’s restrooms. He wipes the sinks, cleans the mirrors, checks the toilets, and picks up paper off the floor. No one asked him to do the work; very few people are aware he does the work. He tells no one and requests nothing in return. He belongs to the Society of the Second Mile.”

I guess this is what we have been asking you to do this year. To go the Second Mile. To give more, support more, step up more. And it has happened. No names, no accolades, just people doing what they can. And we are so grateful! The needs continue. Yes, we still need more funding to support our ministries and to take care of our facility. If you have no funds to give, but are willing to pick up the papers, straighten up here and there, put in a little sweat equity, we need you as well. If you want to know how, please reach out to me! And, if you still haven’t decided what more you can give financially, I’m not afraid to ask you to crunch the numbers one more time and ask God what more you can do to help.

And I have one more important reminder for all of you! Summer is coming (at least I sure hope so on yet another chilly spring day!). WCC still has payroll to meet, utilities to be paid and all other expenses to be met in the summer months. So, when you go on vacation, please remember to continue to give! Either send in a check or, even easier, pop online and make your regular offering gift there. We miss seeing you when you are gone but appreciate you remembering us no matter where you may be. And we will rejoice in your return!

As of the end of April:

Receipts = $410,168 Budget = $312,646

Disbursements = ($361,268) Budget = ($323,484)

Over/(Under) = $48,900 Budget = ($10,838)

In gratitude, Julie Bromley, Trustee

Do you order through Amazon?

Winnetka Covenant Church receives funds through the Amazon Smiles program. Go to smile.amazon.com and follow the instructions for designating a percentage of your shopping to be directed to WCC.

Covenant Companion Our denominational magazine, the Covenant Companion, continues to be recognized nationally for excellence. It was honored with eleven awards from the Associated Church Press and nine awards from the Evangelical Press Association for works published in 2018. Five first-place awards included recognition in the categories on In-Depth Coverage, Interview, Column, Letters to the Editor, and the tongue-in-cheek category, Best Disparaging Letter to the Editor. Not only is our own Cathy Norman Peterson the managing editor for the magazine, but there are often articles written by Winnetka Covenant Church members.

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Mission Opportunities

A Just Harvest – June 6th & June 20th at 1:00 p.m., cooking in our kitchen. New participants are always welcome to join the cooking crew. On the 20th we are asked to send a crew to the Kitchen to serve the food. Leave from church at about 4:30 and return about 7:00. Contact Mary Beth Kovacic to volunteer or with questions.

Greater Chicago Food Depository – Our June date is the 15th and, looking ahead, our summer dates will be July 20th and August 17th. On June 15th Winnetka Covenant Church and Kingdom Covenant Church will participate together at the Food Depository as a joint men’s fellowship service event. Our work there benefits the North Park Friendship Center.

Summer Intergenerational Mission Trip – Pray for the mission team who will be traveling from June 22nd – 29th to the Covenant Mountain Mission in Jonesville, VA to host a week of camp for the local children. The participants in the trip are: Joel Brand

Cindy Buettgen Jen Christianson Jeanne Couleur Jon, Maddie & Gabby Heintzelman

Sandi Hotchkiss Terese Hunt Emma Manning Marilynn Nelson Rachel Rescorl Kitti Steiner Steve Sudhoff Corey Wallace

Love Mercy Do Justice Group – WCC has an informal group called, “Love Mercy Do Justice” group. Come join us as we build awareness in our church and community and grow relationships as we walk alongside those who are suffering injustice. The group is open to all. Here are some opportunities to participate:

• Continue to read White Awake by Daniel Hill (a Covenant pastor); a book study discussion will be planned soon. Please keep reading or it is not too late to start.

• May 31st & June 1st Racial Righteousness weekend with Kingdom Covenant Church. This is an experience designed to challenge participants to deepen their understanding of racial reconciliation and move to a deeper place of personal awareness, responsibility, and action. Building on the biblical foundation of Rev. 7:9, this experience seeks to assist the church in developing a scriptural understanding of racial righteousness, which is the foundation that makes racial reconciliation possible. If interested, please contact Christine Moolo.

• Joint Men’s Group activity to be planned in June (see details above, Greater Chicago Food Depository). Contact Kurt Kovacic.

• Throughout 2019, we are attending Kingdom Covenant Church on the second Sunday of each month. This is a great way to participate through worship, meet some new friends, and help sponsor this church plant. Let us know if you are interested and we’ll put you on the information list.

These opportunities for learning, discussion, and building relationships are open to all. If interested, please contact Christine Moolo, Bonnie Hawkinson, Marybeth or Kurt Kovacic.

A Just Harvest’s 5K for Community Wellness – June 1st. A Just Harvest invites us to participate in their annual 5K Race for Community Wellness at Willye B. White Park. We can participate by forming a team of ten runners/walkers or as individuals. For more information or to register, go to ajustharvest.org/5k.

Covenant Kids Congo – Thanks to new sponsors of a child in DR Congo through the Covenant Kids Congo program. Covenant Kids Congo is a partnership between the Evangelical Covenant Church and World Vision to provide community-focused solutions to issues of clean water, health care, nutrition, and education through child sponsorship. Opportunities to sponsor a child are always available at covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/. Any questions, see Cindy Buettgen or Cam Johnson.

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Following are ongoing groups for the women of the church. They all welcome new participants at any time. Friendship Circle – (formerly Quilters, Knitters, etc.) – We no longer do any quilting, but now meet at 11:30 on the second Thursday of the month for lunch at the Bistro at Covenant Village and stay for a time of fellowship. Although we meet at the Village, all senior women are encouraged to join us. In June the date is the 13th. Contact Gladys Johnson. Next Chapter News - Next Chapter will have its final, group meeting prior to the summer on Wednesday, June 5 at 1:00 p.m. in the upper room. Join us for a special dessert as we welcome a ‘mystery guest from afar’ who is excited to reconnect with friends from WCC as she brings us up to date on her life since moving away.        We will also spend a few minutes talking about plans for the summer. Next Chapter welcomes any woman in a new chapter of life, or who has the time and the desire to make new friends.

E-mail Judi Geake to receive Next Chapter News.

Women’s Ministries

Stitch and Study – Stitch and Study, combining prayer, conversation, and craft/needlework projects, meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the home of Marilynn Nelson. New participants are always welcome to come with or without a project. In June we meet on the 18th. Tuesday Morning Bible Study –– Tuesday Bible Study has concluded for the spring. Plans for fall are a New Testament study in Colossians and Philemon: Continue to Live in Him. For additional information contact Joann Larson.

Memoir Group (last meeting until September) The Memoir Group is open to anyone (male or female) interested in getting their family stories down on paper and sharing those stories with others in the group. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, June 11 in the library. Prompt this month: Downsizing? Simplifying? Have you ever had to do it? How did you do it? Are you doing it now? What do you fear about doing it if you’ve never had to do it before? As always…you are welcome to ignore the prompt and write about anything you want! We love to hear each others’ stories.

Upcoming Opportunities CPBC Triathlon Fundraiser – August 4, 2019 – It’s not too early to start training to participate in the Covenant Point Bible Camp Triathlon. This yearly race is an opportunity to help raise funds for the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Family Camp offered at Covenant Point each summer. You can participate in the full triathlon (swim, bike & run), sprint triathlon or as a walker. Competitors can choose to participate as either individuals or as a team of 2-3 people. Non-competitors are welcome to come and cheer on the athletes and enjoy great meals and great people. Go to www.cpbc.com for information.

A community trip to Israel and Palestine will take place October 13 – 22, 2020. Join Pastor Hawkinson for this holy time of pilgrimage and learning together. Brochures are available, and information can be found on the church website. Details about this exciting opportunity will be unfolding. Please be in touch with Pastor Hawkinson with further questions or to register your interest. Welcome!

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Family News

Mailbox Wednesday night 2018/2019 refuel Thank you for the wonderful support of our Wednesday night dinners. I am happy and honored to be able to head this up. But I could absolutely not do it without all the terrific help from shoppers, prep help, setup, servers and clean up. I believe strongly in the importance of this weekly gathering to eat, talk, worship and make new friends. We are building a great community of welcome. I especially thank those who volunteered to take a night to prepare and serve some excellent dinners: families of Ryan/Hextel, Milbratz, Kovacic, Rivi, Zitzner, Wallgren. I enjoyed working with all of you and am thrilled to see the whole family involved. Also thank you to the “Cookout Crew” who bookend our Refuel year, Linda Kusel and Chef John, the Community Kitchen Crew and all those North Park students and their mentors. A special thanks to my husband, Skip, who will do anything that needs to be done. Many of you stepped up to help serve and prep, thank you all. Clean up assistance was provided by the various boards throughout the year and was a blessing indeed. Deep gratitude to our wonderful volunteer extraordinaire, Gladys Johnson, who keeps up with the dirty dishes and steps up to serve nearly every Wednesday. Sorry if this sounds like an Oscar speech. See you in September.

Kitti Steiner

Delegates Needed The nominating committee is looking for delegates for our Evangelical Covenant Church Annual Meeting, being held June 27-29 in Omaha, NE. To volunteer to represent Winnetka Covenant Church, please contact the church office.

Congratulations and best wishes to:

• Ellen Stenstrom, who graduated on May 18 from Miami University in Oxford, OH. She graduated with BAs in Literature and Creative Writing and this fall will begin a 6-year Master’s/PhD program for Literature at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Mollie, Peter, and I would like to thank everyone for the care that you provided to us at the death of my father. Your calls and texts and Facebook messages and visits were much appreciated. We treasure your compassion and support. Steve, Mollie & Peter Sudhoff

To my dear friends at WCC, This memo is way overdue but hope you will accept my sincere apology. Thanks to all who were so generous with cards, flowers, gifts, visits (when allowed) and the lovely Easter lily. I appreciated the pastors’ visits so much.

With a grateful heart, Marian Eckhardt

Thank you to all who helped to make this year of adult formation a wonderful success! I was blessed throughout by your thoughtfulness, your willingness to engage in hard topics and conversations, and your enthusiasm for learning. Planning is already underway for our fall series of Sunday School and Wednesday night small groups, and I’m looking forward to another great year with you. We will resume in September. Have a wonderful summer! With gratitude, Pastor Jen

Winnetka Covenant Church Network 1200 Hibbard Road Wilmette, Illinois, 60091 847-446-4300 www.winnetkacovenant.org

Our Mission To be a Christian community and to proclaim the gospel,

worshiping together in love, nurturing people in faith, serving others as Christian disciples,

and building a world of justice and hope in the name of Christ.

Guidelines for Loving Relationships We hold grace as our highest value.

We practice honest, open, direct communication. We speak the truth in love and listen in love.

We believe the best about each other, valuing others above ourselves, as Christ does.

We allow room for mistakes, acknowledging that mistakes are part of the growth process.

We Welcome You to Winnetka Covenant Church We are a community of diverse history, ethnicity, viewpoints,

gender identity and sexual orientation, status, ability, and challenges. We invite you to join us wherever you are on your

spiritual journey and to participate with us in the life of the church.

VBS LEGO and Let God Age 3 through entering grade 5

June 18th – 20th,

4:15 – 6:00 p.m., with optional child/friendly dinner afterwards.

First Congregational Church of Wilmette (1125 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette)

Registration through the church web site

$20 for one child, $35 for two children, $40 maximum per family

Presented by First Presbyterian, Trinity United Methodist, St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran,

St. Augustine’s Episcopal, First Congregational and Winnetka Covenant Church.