Ron Farr Weekend

The Rev. Ron Farr was our guest on April 4-6 as he led us in a "visioning retreat" on Friday 4/4 and then a Small Group Leaders training for folks from 7 congregations on Saturday. It was a perfect weekend, except that 18 of us got sick on Sunday - apparently it was a norovirus of some sort, from the food preparation (somehow). We'll probably never know what caused it but you can bet we'll be more careful in the kitchen next time. Luckily, it gave us a humbling experience without any lingering negative side effects.
Here are some pictures of the group on Friday evening, and the small group set-up (with a rock and a feather, for our sharing time).

Sunday April 20th - music by the Whistlepigs String Band

Our special guests this Sunday will be the Whistlepigs String Band.
They'll play some old time gospel music, no doubt. Music begins 9:45a with extended prelude time (gathering music). You won't want to miss it! Check out their website. They are:

The Whistlepigs String Band.

Not The Whistling Pigs. Not The Pig Whistles. Not The Pisslewigs. Not even The Pig Whistle Dirt Band as we were called at one show (we haven't gone back there).

We're a semi-traditional 4-piece bluegrass band featuring Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar, Bass and 4 voices. High, lonesome harmonies, and as one reviewer said Fred Keller & Chris Jones are terrible solozangers. That, of course, was a bad translation from Dutch. What she really said was that they are "superb lead singers."

But don't take our word for it, come here us play, buy our CDs or just listen to it here!

God's Big Backyard - Vacation Bible School

Many thanks to Beth Petzke, Cindy Bartol, and countless others who made this a wonderful week for so many children - much fun and learning about service in Jesus' name.
Here are just a few of the many photos that were taken. We are grateful to Toni Hanson who took most of them:

Maundy Thursday 2008

We gathered at First Presbyterian for a delicious lamb dinner cooked by Marilyn Montemayor and friends. We went through a Seder ritual, then had worship in the sanctuary with combined choirs. How do folks who don't worship in Holy Week prepare themselves adequately for the good news of Easter!?
Here are some pictures of the dinner:

Trinity UCC in Chicago - amidst controversy

From Pastor Jim Hollister -

Today we are hearing about Trinity UCC in the news because of one presidential candidate's membership in that church, the largest congregation in our denomination. I have worshiped at TUCC (www.tucc.org) at least 4 or 5 times and will drive a bus-load of members to worship there on March 30th. I hope we'll hear their new pastor, Otis Moss III, who is a gifted 37-yr. old preacher.

But I also have been very impressed and inspired by their outgoing preacher/pastor, the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. My experience is that yes, he is a trouble-maker, but a trouble-maker in the spirit of the prophets of old and others who have been persecuted. I'm sure that he has overstated things in his preaching, as many of us clergy have at times. But I have also heard some wonderful sermons from him from his pulpit and at conferences around the country.

Our UCC President John Thomas has written something about this current controversy that I commend to you. http://www.ucc.org/news/responding-to-wright.html

And I hope you will watch the video clip at the end of that article. It's of John Thomas speaking at Trinity UCC on 3/2/08 on the occasion of the retirement of the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr., pastor there since the early 1970s.

VIDEO-Group Workcamps

Our Middle School youth will be attending a GROUP Workcamp in Mattoon, Illinois. Here is a promo video from YouTube:

VIDEO-National Youth Event