News from Kingswood United Methodist Church

Kingswood Connected

gates labyrinth

May 5, 2011

Greetings!

A Word from the Pastor

Unless I see ....

Thomas wasn't there when the others encountered Jesus in the closed room where they were hiding. They had heard in the morning that the body was gone when the women had told them of their encounter with the risen Jesus. But hearing it only made them more afraid. It was not until Jesus himself appeared to them ... showing them that he was the same person they had known and followed before the events of the crucifixion ... onlty when they could see him with their eyes that they began to get it. It seems like most of them must have been visual learners. But Thomas wasn't there, so his reaction when he heard of their experience was to declare that "unless I see .... I won't believe."

Where do we look to see the risen Christ? If hearing isn't convincing, we need to be keeping our eyes peeled for the places he is appearing in our lives in this time and place. Think about where you are seeing Christ present in the community here at Kingswood. And where in your family and in the world? This Sunday is Mother's Day. Are there ways the mothers in your life have revealed Christ to you in how they lived and loved?

The risen Christ offered peace to his disciples. It is the sign of his presence. Peace, he offered, and a commission: As the Father has sent me, so I send you. So go into this moment, into this day, into your lives, watching for the presence of Christ in all things.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Margaret Gramley

Don't Forget the Rummage Sale!

The Kingswood Annual Rummage Sale will be held on Saturday, May 14 from 8am - 4pm. For those of you doing spring cleaning, please remember this great opportunity to donate your unwanted clothes, furniture, housewares, etc. to the rummage sale. Please remember donated items need to be in good, working condition. No large applances will be accepted.

You can drop off your donations anytime after May 8 at the church.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED

for sorting and pricing during the week of May 8 (morning, afternoon, or evening), for the day of the sale on May 14 (8am - 4pm) and a clean-up crew on Sunday May 15 from 11am - 1 pm. Any time you have to help is appreciated. Even one hour is helpful! If you have children, bring them along. This is a good opportunity to volunteer as a family.

If you have questions or can help please contact Chris Spaeth at (847)520-5933. Chris will also be available between services on Sunday if you want to sign up.

Did you get your picture taken on Easter Sunday?

Dryer Family Pic

Pick up your pictures in the Fireside Room this Sunday.

Companions on the Journey May Meeting

Our May meeting is next week, Monday, May 9th at 7pm in the Fireside Room.

We hope you can join us. Our Everyday Living topic is "Sharing the Rummage". Just fill up your "It's Biblical" bag with things you don't want or need. We will be sharing with the group about our "favorite" item. If you don't have a bag pick one up in the office or at the table by the "Companions" poster on Sunday Morning. We will move into the sanctuary for the Deepening Spirituality topic; Amazing Grace. We will also have Surprise Salad to snack on and talk about the June meeting.

Bring a friend, and your bag of "clutter"! Hope to see you on the 9th! Any questions contact Elizabeth Hicks ehicks@kingswoodumc.com.

Glory Fingers Creative Ministry Team presented an AMAZING Spring Musical

on Saturday.

Congratulations to the whole team for their wonderful productions.

Keep Buffalo Grove Beautiful

Adopt-a-Highway is a mission project sponsored by the Puppet Team to serve the Buffalo Grove community. The congregation is encouraged to get involved in keeping our community beautiful. Clean up is scheduled for May 15 at 10:30. Sign up in the small kitchen. Wear sturdy shoes, no sandals and bring work gloves. This service project is open to everyone who is in 7th grade and older. Any questions contact Sheri Brubeck at sheribrubeck@comcast.net.

Graduation Potluck

Graduating College and High School students are invited to attend a celebration of all Kingswood graduates. The graduates and their families are invited to a potluck on Sunday May 15 at noon. Each family is asked to bring a dish to share. Sign up in the Fireside room on Sunday.

Sponsor-a-Book Cart

The Sponsor-a-Book Cart will be in the Fireside room during coffee fellowship on Sunday May 8. There are some wonderful children's books and DVD's that would love a home in Kingswood Library. A book/DVD can be sponsored in honor of someone's birthday, in memeory of a loved one, etc. When an item is sponsored, a book label is placed inside the front cover and a postcard is sent to the sponsor.

labrynth

Prayer Labyrinth Project at Kingswood

In June, Tommy Gates will lead a group of Scouts in building an outdoor prayer labyrinth on the western edge of the Kingswood property. This is his Eagle project and he has been working for several months making plans, getting approval and learning about prayer labyrinths. In the next few weeks you'll see him in the Fireside Room with a display showing his plan and receiving any encouragement and financial support you may want to offer.

Senior High Mission Trip

The Senior High Work Camp has been announced! The trip is to Galveston, Texas from July 31 to August 6, to work on homes devastated by Hurricane Ike in 2008. They will be working with One Mission Initiative. The youth will be chaperoned by Ruth Anderson, Norm Belew, Jeff Johnson, Krist Neumann, Harry Brubeck and Sheri Brubeck.
You can sponsor a youth using the donation link in the right hand column. Select "Youth Mission Trip", and please add the youth participant's name where designated.

CFF Great Strides logo

Walk for Cystic Fibrosis

Debbi Bobbitt will be walking in the Great Strides for Cystic Fibrosis in honor of her granddaughter, Julia Flesor and in memory of Elizabeth Weaver on Sunday, May 15 at Citizens Park in Barrington. If anyone would like to join in the walk or donate to the walk contact Debbi at (847) 362-0044. You can also donate or join the walk on line at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Website type in "Debbi Bobbit"or sign up under Julia Flesor's Fighters.

Scholarship Applications Available

Applications for the Dwight Hall and Judy Larkins Davis Memorial Scholarships are now available. Completed applications are due to the church office on May 9.

Please use the links below for more information and the application.

Dwight Hall

Judy Larkins Davis Memorial

child playing with blocks

Summer Babysitter Available

Denise Parmar, a college student and KUMC member is available this summer, beginning in May, for babysitting. Please contact her at dparma3@uic.edu or call her cell

phone (847) 305-9664.

Kingswood Preschool to offer Summer Camp

This 6 week summer program will be offered 3 days a week (Tues.-Thurs.) June 14th -July 21st from 9:00am-12:00pm.

Our program is designed to offer your preschool child

the perfect summer camp experience. All children 3-5 years of age are welcome.

Crafts, recreational activities, music, and plenty of outdoor fun will help create a positive experience for your child. Fun and educational themes will be highlighted as well as weekly special events.

For more information please contact Laura Kopka, Director of Kingswood Preschool @ 847-666-4092. Or email preschool@kingswoodumc.com

Surprisingly Happy: an Atypical Religious memoir

"Are you happy because you are getting older or because you've found spiritual peace?" Rabbi Shelia Weinberg offers answers to that question in her new memoir. Snapshots of Rabbi Weinberg's life, as told through poetry, prayers, and experiences, offer clues about her search to find God and carves a path for others to learn from her journey.

Author Rabbi Shelia Weinberg will be reading and signing copies of her book, Surprisingly Happy, at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue, 1224 Dempster, Evaston on Thursday, May 12 at 7pm.

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