News from Kingswood United Methodist Church

Kingswood Connected

Moses and the Burning Bush

August 25, 2011

Greetings!

Thoughts from the Pastor

O give thanks to the Lord ..... Psalm 105

For all that has been, thanks; to all that will be, yes.

Dag Hammarskjold

On these beautiful days of late summer .... (finally, we have some great weather) ... the thanks just seems to bubble up from our hearts. And yet, it is easy to forget to say thank you when we are so busy getting things started for fall, sending kids off to school and anticipating the busy schedules of sports and other activities.

But thank you!!!!!! Thanks be to God for all that you are and all that you do and all that you bring to the life of this community.

Today there are women in the kitchen bustling about preparing a luncheon for the Interfaith Clergy who will gather here at noon.

Already, Norm has been here putting shelves in a closet to organize curriculum for adults and youth.

There are servants handing out food and greeting those seeking assistance at the Emergency Food Pantry over in Manna House.

Tonight the Church Council will gather to get updates, hear plans for the fall and to begin visioning for the future of Kingswood.

There are calls coming in about the Buffalo Days Bake Sale, and messages to look for the article in Buffalo Grove Patch about the Labyrinth dedication last weekend and another call to report on how "mom" is doing today. There is a bell ringing down the hall ... and inspection reveals that "mom" and "grandma" are in Barb's office to sign Connor up for PDO. There is a beautiful dance of care and activity than can feel like "busyness," unless we remember to say "thank you."

So... let us give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, sing to him sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works!!!!

Blessings!!!!

Rev. Margaret Gramley

Luke Pepper

Welcome to Luke Pepper!

We will celebrate and welcome Luke Pepper at a reception between services this Sunday at 10am. Please come, wear your name tag, and say hello!!!!!

Hello!!!!

My name is Luke Pepper and on Monday August 22, I joined the Kingswood staff as Minister of Adult and Youth Formation. I am excited to meet you all and I am grateful for the hospitality I have received so far. To let you know a little about myself, I grew up in the Northwest Suburbs and graduated to Fremd High School in Palatine so in many ways Buffalo Grove already feels like home. In May of this year I graduated from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston with my Masters of Divinity. Some of my main passions in ministry include teaching, missions, and social advocacy and I am currently in the candidacy process for commissioning as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church. Once again I look forward to meeting you all and feel free to stop by my office and introduce yourself during the week!

Luke

Luke was chosen as one of three of the 62 Garrett graduates to be featured in Aware Magazine - to read the article about Luke click on the link to the magazine and go to page 10: Aware Magazine

Kingswood Labyrinth Dedication

On Sunday, August 21 between services the Labyrinth was dedicated in memory of Steven Taylor and Katie Traynor, and in honor of other youth whose lives have been cut short too soon.

Labyrinth Dedication

Taylors Traynors at Dedication

Labyrinth Treat Table

There was a story about the Labyrinth Dedication in the Buffalo Grove Patch. Click here to read the story Labyrinth Dedication Article

9/11 Commemorative Event

candles

The Village of Buffalo Grove, The Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band and Township High School District 214 are sponsoring a 9/11 Commemorative Event on Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. at Buffalo Grove High School. Rev. Margaret Gramley will be participating.

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"Wrecked" in Galveston

Youth Mission Team 2011

"I was 'Wrecked' this year at work camp by getting to talk to the people who lived there and hearing their stories. I've learned to be more great full for what i have, because some people don't have as much. Also, i will never forget that one night where we all opened up to each other and really bonded." -Kate Schooley

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

August 28 - "Breakfast and a Movie"

September 4 - Sundae Sunday - ice cream for breakfast.

Food Pantry items are rice, pinto beans and flour.

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

Children's Sunday School Teacher Orientation

Teachers both new and presently serving are invited to attend fall teacher orientation followed by dessert at Barb Symonds house, 1040 Kenilworth Dr. Wheeling.

Orientation will be held on Wednesday, August 31 at 7:30pm. Sunday School material will be available to pick-up at that time.

Sunday School will start on Sunday, September 11.

Please RSVP to Barb Symonds at bsymonds@kingswoodumc.com

Come and see for yourself how weird and wacky we really are! No obligation to fit in. Just come and learn more about the team, eat, play some games and have fun!

Pleas bring your own drink.

RSVP: YES or no to Sheri at sheribrubeck@comcast.net by August 25.

Returning puppeteers will get an email with a request for your food donation

New puppeteers -Orientation immediately following the picnic (7pm - 7:30) in the glass block room. New puppeteers are required to have at least one parent present.

Weekly team rehersals begin in Tuesday August 30 and are every Tuesday from 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Glory Fingers will welcome their newest puppeteers with a presentation at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Belvidere on Sunday, September 18. The newest members of the team will have 3 rehearsals to learn their parts in "The Narrow Brick Road" musical! They will also present portions of this musical at HarvestFest on October 15.

Crafters for HarvestFest Craft Fair

HarvestFest will be here in no time. It's time to start thinking about the Craft Fair during HarvestFest on October 15. Applications for HAND MADE items may be made to Arleen Messina at (847) 537-1441.

United Methodist Women - Mission Collection

The UMW are collecting school kits for distribution through Church World Service.

The items needed to fill these kits are:

- blunt/round tip metal scissors

- 70 count spiral notebooks or notebooks totaling 200-210 pages (no loose leaf/filler paper)

- 12 inch ruler

- hand held pencil sharpener

- large erasers

- pencils with erasers

- boxes of 24 crayons (only 24)

All items must be brought to Kingswood by September 11 and placed in the labeled box in the closet.

Take advantage of of the "Back to School" sales and help the children in need.

For more information contact the church office (847) 398-0770

Running for a Cause

Steve Briggs is running in the Chicago Half Marathon on September 11, 2011 with Team World Vision. This is his first ever run of this distance and he is looking for support both in prayer and financially. You can find out more information about World Vision and donate at World Vision . If you have any questions please feel free to contact Steve. He thanks you for your support!