Westchester Community Church · 05/28 Allan Boyd, Cathe Flynn, Kyle Boyd 05/29 Jennifer Tavernier 05/31 Max Voegtle May Anniversaries 05/03 Laura& William Leibundguth, 39 yrs. Jennifer

Westchester Community Church A United Church of Christ 1840 Westchester Blvd. Westchester, Illinois 60154

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage PAID

Bellwood, IL Permit No. 42

Label

Westchester Community Church

A United Church of Christ

Sunday Worship 10am

Ministry provided for Members and Non-Members

Active Member Westchester Chamber of Commerce

60 Years of Loving God and Caring for Our Community

Come and Visit Us!

Westchester Community Church United Church of Christ 1840 Westchester Blvd Westchester, Illinois 60154

(708) 865-1282 WCC Website: www.westchesterucc.org Church email: [email protected] Rev. Joseph E. Mills, III Pastor UCSI Website: www.ucctamilchurch.com

Sunday Service 10:00 am

Office Hours Monday-Thursday 8:00 am—4:30 pm

Friday 8—Noon

Volume 26 Issue 2 Issue Date April 27, 2020

...continued on page 2

“SIGNS OF HOPE”

It is too easy right now to be depressed, sad, frustrated, or

angry. I wanted you to hear things from a different perspective.

Signs of Hope:

-Within one week, we had raised over $400 to get Coffee to

our police and fire departments, our local nursing home and area

hospitals. The program has started—a sign of Hope!

- For Easter Sunday, we had 150 people on our Zoom

worship! Meghan Kasanders and her friend sang and played a special piece of music;

Jeremiah Fleming and his family sang and played a special piece of music; Cathe Flynn, Barb

and Pastor Joe Mills delivered 100 communion kits (all we could get) to as many people as

we could—and had communion. Others got whatever bread/crackers/juice/wine—and had

communion together!! - Signs of Hope!

- I was able to do two weddings on people’s front lawns. One was right down the

street on the Boulevard, one was in Melrose Park. One was in reaction to the wedding being

cancelled, and the bride’s mother dying a week after the wedding would have been. The other

was in concern for a mother with advanced stage 4 lung cancer. Both weddings were

beautiful! Cars lined the street with people honoring “distancing”. Neighbors went on to

their front lawns and shouted blessings. Cars passed by and honked! -Signs of Hope!

- In the last week, I have personally talked to 3 people who were violently ill with

Covid 19. They have recovered! Several others in our prayer list have gotten better—Signs

of Hope!

- In the last week, I have learned over a dozen new things to do with my computer

(other than throwing it out the window). I have been able to teach more than a dozen

members how to use Zoom, and a couple of members how to even use a computer and

emails!! I have never been a Luddite, a person who hates technology.

Inside this issue: Pg Thank You’s 2

Prayers 7 Come Study with Us 8

Youth Activities 9

WCC Activities 4-6, 8 Community Activities 11

I love to learn. But I’m like most people: some things I catch on to quickly; other things

slowly. By the way—a Luddite is a person who hates technology and tries to undermine it

because of fear it will replace people (and I actually appreciate that some technology does hurt

workers in search of profit). The original Luddites were in England, textile workers who

formed a secret society to destroy the “power looms” that were replacing employees by the

droves. I’m not at all a Luddite like that. But I really appreciate how terrifying computers can

be to people who have never used them. For the people who have taken the time to try to learn

them and overcome their fear—A Sign of Hope!

- Several members of our church took it on themselves to call up other members and

start checking in on them regularly. I put together a calling list of members, and am pleased to

learn how many people have made multiple calls, prayed with other members, and helped keep

people connected. Others have called up members, and during worship put up their phones to

their computer so others could worship by phone! - Signs of Hope!

- Several members have contacted shut-ins and older members, and routinely delivered

groceries, run errands, and helped get people to their doctors—Signs of Hope!

- Our Confirmands have been meeting for Zoom, and have helped the one person who

would have been the “sole” confirmand for next year begin to catch up so that person can be

confirmed with the rest of them—for their commitment and willingness to care—Signs of

Hope!

- For our front-line workers and volunteers, their immense patience with rudeness, un-

kindness (which I have personally seen), and their willingness to really try to help –I am

amazed and thankful. I stop and talk to every cashier, postal worker, garbage collector,

officers, nurse that I know. For their immense compassion and bravery—Signs of Hope!

- For the members of the church and community members making masks, donating

items. For the restaurant owners supplying food for free, even as their businesses are suffering,

because they care more about the health of someone else—Signs of Hope!

- For your giving, caring, and above all, for knowing how many of you are truly praying

for others—Bless you. Bless you. Bless you.—You are a Sign of Hope!

We will continue to keep our office open. We take calls, do what we can. We will hold

worship every week—in this Column are the ways to get on with computer or phone to our

Sunday worship and Bible Study via Zoom. And you can always call in to ask for help.

We will get through this. And we will learn better practices.

Be safe. Be smart. Help if you can. Pray.

In the love of Jesus -

Advocate Health Care is in need of the following: Masks, Hand Sanitizer, Dis-

infectant Wipes and unused scrubs If you have any of these items, please con-

tact the church office or Advocate Aurora directly to donate these items.

The line-up is as follows:

April 24 - Frank Pellico-Blackhawks Organist

May 1 - Glenn Tallar

May 8 - Judy Matarelli

May 15 -Jim Patak

May 22 - Taylor Trimby

May 29 - Carl DeSanti

Aug 5 - Dennis Nawracaj

A Prayer of Thanksgiving for Reverend

Joseph E. Mills, III, Pastor of West-

chester Community Church. We give

God thanks for his service, love and com-

mitment for our worship community, the

Village of Westchester and its surround-

ing communities.

During this time of uncertainty, fear and

this temporary “new norm”, Reverend

Mills spent endless hours researching the

best affordable options for uninterrupted

weekly worship. He scheduled and led

Holy Week services with the use of tech-

nology. He has kept regular contact with

our sick and shut-ins, praying for all of

us, our family and our personal concerns;

performing a marriage ceremony on a

couples front lawn, supporting families

who have lost loved one (members and

non-members) during this restricted time

of distance awareness, supporting our

first responders; and performing some

long awaited housekeeping needs in the

church office building. Thank you, Rev-

erend Mills, for your commitment to our

worship community and its surrounding

communities and beyond.

We also give thanks for our Church Ad-

ministrator, Susan Becerra, for support-

ing Pastor Mills and the on-going opera-

tion of the church office and performing

extraordinary duties as needed. Also, for

our musician, custodian and various

boards and committees who continued to

perform weekly responsibilities, includ-

ing delivering communion packages to

parishioners for our Easter Sunday wor-

ship service, while following best prac-

tice guidelines for staying safe. For all of

you we give thanks.

- Carolyn Savage

Pastor Joe, Thank you so very much for

being there for our family. My Mom so

enjoyed your visits “on the loveseat”, and

enrichment of her spiritual life. We’re

very appreciative. Jill Cahill daughter

of Grace Duhasek

Pastor Joe, Thank you so much. You’ve

made us feel so special during this crisis.

May God and Blessed Mother Bless you

always. We Love you!! The Principe

Wedding

SUPPORT OUR CABINET &

OUR COMMITTEES

Our Cabinet meets every 4th Tuesday of the

month, and is open to anyone to come and

learn (7 pm)

Our newest slate of officers was recently

elected, with Carol Hoppe being our

Moderator and Noreen Love our

Vice-Moderator.

A full list of officers and committee mem-

bers is available in the narthex.

Please pray for, and support our officers

and committees.

**and you don’t have to be elected to help

You can even be a friend of the church—

When you see an opportunity,

Come and help!!

**We will send out an email with the Zoom

Link if interested in watching!

We also have weekly worship on Sundays

at 10 am. in the form of a Zoom Meet-

ing. If you would like to be invited please

send us our email address or you can go

directly to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81596454368

Meeting ID: 815 9645 4368

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,81596454368# US

(Chicago)

+16465588656,,81596454368# US (New

York)

Dial by your location

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 253 215 8782 US

+1 301 715 8592 US

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 815 9645 4368

Find your local number: https://

us02web.zoom.us/u/kdqxXobKK5

PASTOR JOE NOW HAS A ZOOM BI-

BLE STUDY FOR WEDNESDAY

MORNINGS 10 A.M.—IF

INTERESTED, MAKE SURE YOUR

EMAIL IS IN TO THE OFFICE SO

YOU CAN BE INVITED TO ATTEND!!

This is the information for the next few

Bible Studies:

Every week on Wed, until May 13, 2020, 7

occurrence(s)

Apr 29, 2020 10:00 AM

May 6, 2020 10:00 AM

May 13, 2020 10:00 AM

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/961336622

Meeting ID: 961 336 622

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,81596454368# US

(Chicago)

+16465588656,,81596454368# US (New

York)

Dial by your location

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 253 215 8782 US

+1 301 715 8592 US

+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

Meeting ID: 815 9645 4368

Find your local number: https://

us02web.zoom.us/u/kdqxXobKK5

YOUTH GROUP

Upcoming Activities:

Summer Mission Trip

We may not do a long-range trip

this year, to help protect our youth.

If possible, we may put together

some mini-mission trips to Tower

Hill if allowed to do so!

Please recycle Aluminum cans to

raise funds for our Youth Group!!

Please bring them the first Sunday of

the month. Cans can be left in the

boiler room or by the blue recycling

can near the back door.

WESTCHESTER FUN FEST Is cancelled.

Look for the possibility of a special

Labor Day event-your Chamber and

Village are discussing this right now!

May Birthdays

05/01 James Jr. Patak, Savannah Franks

05/03 Marilyn Kostohryz, Daniel Kadolph

05/06 Kristen Coleman

05/07 Nicollette Vergara

05/08 Mark Henning, Jean Stanger, Charlotte

Schwass, Betsy Grimm

05/10 Malar Raj Kanaka

05/11 Dolores Patak

05/12 Otis Randle, Jennifer Else,

Sarah Vrablic

05/16 Henry Luebeck

05/19 Cepella Randle, Wayne Scharlach

05/20 Joe Augello

05/21 Katherine Straube

05/22 Claire Pedersen

02/23 Andy Straube

05/24 Isabelle Brumwell

05/25 Dee Norton

05/26 Eric Franks

05/27 Rev. Godwin Raj Kanaka

05/28 Allan Boyd, Cathe Flynn, Kyle Boyd

05/29 Jennifer Tavernier

05/31 Max Voegtle

May Anniversaries

05/03 Laura& William Leibundguth, 39 yrs.

Jennifer & Robert Tavernier, 16yrs.

05/04 Gery and Mary Kniesel, 7 yrs.

05/07 Nicollette and Luis Vergara, 9 years

05/09 Shirley & Robert Wachowski, 11 yrs.

05/14 Sue & Jim McCulloch, 65 yrs.

05/15 Mary & Rev. Phil Hobson, 21 yrs.

05/16 Rose Ann & Al Glazier, 11 years

05/18 Jennifer & Andy Straube, 13 yrs.

05/22 Noreen Love & Shirley Patton, 21 yrs

05/27 Tina & Craig Marousek, 36 yrs.

HELP OUR FOOD PANTRIES

We regularly collect food for St. Johns

church, our church and Westchester

Food Pantry. We especially need

Peanut Butter, Pasta and Spaghetti

Sauce (our Pantries tell us we really need these!!) We also collect per-

sonal products such as liquid soap for

the Fisher House for Vets, toothpaste,

toothbrushes, combs, shaving cream,

lip gloss, etc. for the men and women

at Hines VA Hospital and the

women’s and children’s shelter. There

are boxes in the back of the church for

these items . Thanks, Your Mission

Board

COME STUDY WITH US

The Wednesday Bible

Study meets Wednesdays, 9:30 am, West-

chester Health and Rehabilitation Cen-

ter.

If you would like to join us for Bible

Study via Zoom, either call or email us

your email address.

Faith Conversations will start up

again as soon as quarantining ends

It is a new year and you keep saying, “I

want to get my pictures in a scrap-

book”. That time is now, come join us

for the upcoming scrapbooking dates:

Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30.

Join us Friday or Saturday or both days.

On Friday’s we scrapbook from 6 pm to

11 pm and Saturday’s hours are 9:00 am

to 11:00 pm Call Barb Mills for de-

tails 708/562-0759 (we may end up

meeting on Zoom). We have a lot of

fun and we get a lot of work done.

WCC Mission Card Makers may meet

Saturday, May 30 depending on the

COVID19 from 10 am to 2 pm in Fel-

lowship Hall for their next greeting card

making session. Cards will be distrib-

uted to military personnel worldwide

and those being treated in VA hospitals.

Come join the group. All supplies are

on hand. Lunch is $5 or bring a sack

lunch. As before, some cards will find

their way to FFH during coffee hour and

fish fries. Take a card, send a note to

someone who needs a bit of cheer or

comfort. A free-will donation is appre-

ciated for supplies and postage and to

support church-related mission projects.

Coordinators Charlene Dolnics, Ar-

lene Ivers and Helga

Mendoza. RSVP/Questions, contact

Charlene 708/345-1816.

The Women’s Tower Hill Retreat of

May 29—31, is cancelled due to the Co-

rona virus health concerns.

BUY A CARD FROM MANNA

EACH MONTH—AND HELP

OUR CHURCH!!

When you buy a Gift Card from

MANNA, a percentage of it (you get

what you pay for) goes to help our

church!! Take a form, and see how

many businesses you already use will

take these Gift Cards!! Manna order

blanks are available in the church of-

fice or narthex. Make checks payable

to WCC. Orders are due the last Sun-

day of the month with the distribution

on the second Sunday of the month. If

you have questions, please call Sue

Becerra in the church office 708/865

-1282 or

Charlene Dolnics 708/345-1816.

PLEASE DONATE MONEY TO

HELP OUR CHURCH

“He is not fool who gives what he

cannot keep, to gain what he cannot

lose.”

- Missionary Jim Elliott

You can send a check to the church!

We are in process, right now,,

Of getting an on-line giving vehicle to

put on our Facebook Page.

For now—give as you can—

But first help your family!

For those who have come by the

church to do a project, or help in any

way—a special thank you!!

Remember to place our church in your

will or estate, or make a special gift to

our

Endowment or to a special ministry of

our church!! - you can give forever by

doing this!!

DOWN THE ROAD

ACTIVITIES

May 9—Plant Sale Pickup (9 a.m.)

We will deliver to you if need

May 9—Pet Blessing—11 a.m.

If allowed to do so.

Our local B.E.D.S. shelter is in need

of the following:

Bottles of Hawaiian Punch and Ap-

ple Juice, 12 cases of soda pop, fruit

snacks and good snacks. Bring

them to the church office and we

will get them to B.E.D.S.

CHURCH WEBSITE

Our new website is:

www.westchesterucc.org

Our new site is up and running.

Take a look– and if you have a

suggestion—let Sue Becerra know!!

BE ON OUR NOTIFICATION

EMAIL LIST: Please call or email the

church office Westcom-

[email protected]) with your email or

phone contact if you’d like to be on a

prayer notification list.

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP!

1) Wash your hands thoroughly & any

surfaces you touch!

2) Don’t go out more than you need to

3) PRAY FOR ALL HEALTH CARE

WORKERS-nursing homes, hospi-

tals, doctors offices, and emergency

workers

4) Don’t buy more than commonsense

tells you to

5) Pay attention to your neighbors,

especially those who cannot easily

get out—and find out if they need

anything

6) Use your phone to actually talk to

people and check in on them—

many people crave relationship and

just need to hear a direct and loving

voice

7) Stay away from large groups

8) Continue to shop—you can do

curbside pickup at many places—

just be wise

9) Call other members of the church

and check in on them—better to

have several people call than none!!

10) PRAY for healing, wisdom, and di-

rection in this time.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to

the Lemme Family

on the birth of their

daughter Rachel

Nicole Lemme born

on March 26th. 8# -

9 oz. 23” long

Congratulations on the

Marriage of Tara Polcyn

and Joseph Pecora on

April 11th

Congratulations on

the Marriage of

Amber Kachirou-

bas and James

Principe on April

16th

We grieve with the following families the Smith family in the death of Dick Smith, we

learned of the death of Narda Ligon, who was an active member of our Wednesday Bible

Study, Isaac Johnson in the death of his wife, Meg Gregory passed away , no services will

be held in this area. Please send condolences to her daughter Barbara Brownell, 4131

Riverview Blvd., Bradenton, FL 34209, The Dusahek and Cahill families in the death of

long-time member (she was 100) Grace Duhasek; and with our Illinois Conference family

in the death of former Conference President Dave Madsen, and a wonderful couple down

the street (whose wedding I was to do one week ago) - in the death of the bride’s mother—

Carol Polcyn, Peggy Boswell and the Boswell family in the death of her brother

Kenneth Boswell, former member Laverne Smiricki.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

PEOPLE AT THEIR HOMES: Keith Hoffman, Charlie Kadolph, Howie Linville, Gabri-

ella Felson, Sandy Tavernier, Bill Milleville & Nancy (whose house burned down), Kay

Ulicny, Jack and Ellie Merritt, Pat Kabbe, Linda Belice, Lou Bender, Shirley Felske, Howie

Linville, Diane Gati, Hank Luebeck, Sue McCulloch, Pastor Godwin Raj, Horst Kniesel,

Walt & Lil Suva, Pat Von Laven, Lulling Savage, Serena Ivers & Chris, Delores Patak, Kim

Powers, Gloria Dearmore, Elayne Dalheim, Milton and Patricia Ladner, Michael Kelstrom,

Eva Poulos

PEOPLE SERVING OUR COUNTRY OVERSEAS: Scott Johnson, Tyler Kimbler

PEOPLE AT LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES: Terry Samonds -Sturgeon Bay; Ann

Stvan —Bridgeway, Steve Tomporowski – Wisconsin; FRIENDS TO KEEP IN

PRAYERS: Alston family, Andrew, James (6 mos. old), Sandra Bempah (out of a coma!),

Bill Bosch, Sue Brown, Darryl Christy (just went home), Beverly Cobb, Sharon Eckstein,

Lee Ellis, LeVander Ellis, Judy Farley, Ruth Flom, Thomas Fritz, Kylie Grayson, Herman

Goodloe, Ann & Ken Hall -Ann in hospice, Mason Hauhe, Ed & Dorothy Ivers, Arlean

Johnson, Charlie Kadolph, Deborah Kaminski, Melody Keppeler, Brian King, Alvin Klein,

Simone Knight, Velta Kopacek, Janice Kostka, Maxx Kusper (friend of Tina Marousek hit

by train), Joe Kyncl, Joanne Locigno, Jaime Lusk, John Lusk, Mark Mandarino, April

Marin, Gabriel Meier, Diane Otters, PingPing, Kaleb Ramirez, Angela Rice, Bob Rosner,

Alena Sanders, Sandy Shea, Sherrie Simpson, Katie Szymanski, Howie VanBevern, Wil-

liams family, Cam Wright

PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED: (all the people at Westchester Health & Rehab & other nurs-

ing care and retirement centers—on lock down for preventative measures)