News from Kingswood United Methodist Church

Kingswood Connected

The

Perfect

Gift

July 28, 2011

Greetings!

Thoughts from the Pastor

From my calendar of "table graces," the July prayer is this:

Gracious God, Holy Spirit, how beautiful are the gifts of your scenic majesty. In this warm season we especially appreciate your gift of water. We see ourselves in relationship with water, in communion with it. Many beings are involved in preparing the tables where we are fed -- summer sun, air, rain, and working hands --- all are gifts of Love, of Light, of kindness ... gifts for us to enjoy. We are grateful for all. Blessed are the givers! Blessed are the receivers! Amen.

A week ago we were praying for water .... for the crops, for the garden, for the yard, for the trees. Everything was so dry. Today ... in the midst of more rain ... we're not so sure. Many of you have been flooded ... or know people who are and may be helping them. And the rains continue to come. So too much water can surely be a problem.

And yet, the reminder of this prayer is that water is a gift and essential to life. No wonder it is the central image of our sacrament of baptism. May we, even in the floods of life, remember God's gift to us of life-giving water ... water that quenches our thirst, cleanses us, water from which we are born and which brings us to new life in Christ.

Blessings!!!! Rev. Margaret Gramley

Summertime goes so fast...June is gone and July is almost passed.

Here are just a few pictures of our most recent Kingswood activities.

Lake Kingswood on July 24, 2011

So .... it rained!!!! Not news to many of you for some of you have been flooded and may have more flooding today. Kingswood has had a lake for several days.

Youth Mission Team 2011

27 youth and adults will leave on Sunday, July 31, for the 2011 Youth Mission Trip. They were introduced and blessed for service and travel in worship on Sunday.

Baptism of Flynn Aloysius Schroeder July 24, 2011

Dr. Andrew and Mrs. Teresa Schroeder presented their son for baptism and he was surrounded by five sponsors as he was baptized and blessed. (His dad said the he and Teresa believe that "it takes a village.." and they chose people Flynn can turn to as he grows.) Andy has been a chiropractor for several members of Kingswood but has been diagnosed with ALS and the family will be moving to Florida in the fall where the climate will be better for his health. They wanted Flynn baptized and we were delighted to welcome him into the Christian family and commend them all to a church community in their new home area.

Puppet Team Members: Erin O'Donovan, Megan O'Donovan, and Alex Dungan

Kingswood hosted a Conference workshop for worship planners and leaders on Saturday July 16. A small group from puppet team participated and accompanied the musicians by signing the Lord's Prayer.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS, GIFT AND BLESSINGS

Dear Kingswood friends,

I moved and settled well in Lanark.

I feel like I am still traveling but this is a good trip. Also, I often feel I still have to drive to Kingswood on Sunday mornings.

The past year at Kingswood was a precious gift to me from God to worship with you all. I pray that God continues to bless us through our worship and fellowship wherever we are. I will miss you all Choi at the pulpit a lot!! - Choi

Lanark United Methodist Church

405 East Locust St.

Lanark IL 61046

e-mail: choimoni@gmail.com

Summer Kids Camp - Sunday School Schedule

Summer Sunday School is underway and continues through Sunday September 4.

Children age 4 through 5th grade will meet in room 116B/C at both 9am and 10:30am Christmas in July

July 31 - "Breakfast and a Movie"

Food Pantry items are cooking oil, spaghetti sauce and pasta.

Nursery care is available for infants through age 3 at both services.

Matthew Swanson and Tina Evans wed in Kentucky

Congratulations

Matthew Swanson and Tina Evans were married at the Vine Grove Christian Church in Vine Grove, Kentucky on June 4, 2011.

Matthew serves in the U.S. Army and has been transferred from Ft. Knox Kentucky to Ft. Benning Georgia where Matthew and Tina make their home with their 18 month old daughter, McKenzie. Matthew is the son of Paula and Marc Swanson of Wheeling.

Congratulations!

Jill and Glenn Turner celebrate the marriage of their daughter Amber Joan Turner to Greg Paull on July 24^th in an evening outdoor ceremony in Kildeer, Illinois.

Amber and Greg live in San Mateo, CA. Amber teaches 7-8^th grade science in Redwood City,CA and Greg works for ICE (Homeland Security/US Customs Service) in San Francisco.

Youth Mission Trip

The Senior High Work Camp 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 group was introduced and blessed during worship on Sunday in preparation for their upcoming trip.

The youth mission team appreciates the generous donation of the 2011 mission team t-shirts from Don and Maryann Harkess!

Adopt-a-Highway July Clean up Date Filled

The July Adopt a Highway date has been adopted by Regan Frieling and nine of her friends. They will be cleaning up Dundee Rd on July 30th for Stevenson High School service hours. Thank you to the Regan Frieling team!

Ali Castriano and friends from Stevenson High school have adopted the September clean up date!

Any other groups that would like to adopt the last 2011 road clean up date for November please contact sheribrubeck@comcast.net. The group may choose their own date and time. If no group signs up for November the date will be November 13 at 11:30am. Everyone in middle school and older are welcome to help including friends, family, neighbors, etc. Please wear hard-soled, closed-toed shoes and gloves that will protect your hands from broken glass.

Interfaith Summer Reading Group - The Faith Club

18 persons from Kingswood, Beth Am and Temple Chai gathered last week for the first of what may be a series of discussions of the book The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner. We risked asking each other some hard questions and listened to hear what was hard in the asking as well as to begin answering the questions. One person asked: do you (Christians) blame us (Jews) for killing Jesus. That isn't fair!!!! Another asked, what does the crucifixion mean and if you eat the body and blood, isn't that like cannibalism? Whew!!! We discussed these last night and decided we had only begun so will gather again on August 24. Questions we've identified to discuss so far are: how do Jews in the US relate to Zionism? and what is the deal with Jews being "chosen?"

So ... if you didn't finish the book (most hadn't in the discussion last week), keep going and join the conversation on August 24 at 7pm at Beth Am.

What are you doing this summer?

Kingswood Connected would like to see pictures of what you are doing this summer. Send pictures and information about your summer activities to ehicks@kingwoodumc.com.

Watch for vacation pictures in upcoming Kingswood Connected emails.

ravinia logo

KAAN Ravinia Events

Bev has picked out lovely CSO evenings for some wonderful music under the stars! We will designate a spot and meet with our picnics to enjoy the entertainment and fellowship. We have access to special lawn ($5) and pavilion ($12.50) pricing and students are free. If you are interested in joining Bev for any of these evenings, please contact her at bevmodlin@sbcglobal.net

July 31 - Tchaikovsky Spectacular 1812 (including canons)

August 6 - Itzak Perlman conducts Fleisher

August 9 - Concerto for 5 Pianos

Are you a "Lord of the Rings" fan? Ravinia is sponsoring a very special night Friday, August 19, at 7:30pm. The CSO will be playing the Oscar-winning score as the film "The Fellowship of the Ring" is shown on screens in the pavilion and on the lawn. If interested in organizing or being part of a group, contact Pam Gish.

KAAN's Summer Tours Go "Behind the Scenes"

Fermilab Outing

Are you curious about how things are made or designed or what happens behind closed doors? Then we have some trips for you this summer! Sign up for 1, 2, or all of the following adult trips. Most group sizes are limited, so sign up early by contacting Pam Gish at pam_gish@hotmail.com or call her at (847) 438-08955

July 24 - Chicago "L" Tour. Ride the train with author Greg Borzo and learn about its history and see historical sites along the ride. (Leave after services on Sunday, 1-5pm, $11 + lunch)

August 13 - Backstage in "Broadway in Chicago" Haven't you always wanted to see what goes on backstage? This tour will take us backstage at the Oriental, Cadillac or Bank of America Theaters. (Saturday, 11 - 1pm, $13.60 + a Millennium Park stroll?)

****Groups will decide on travel and lunch arrangements****

Tom Gates and the Labyrinth featured in the local paper!

Labyrinth Article in Buffalo Grove Patch

Tommy Gates