News from Kingswood United Methodist Church

Kingswood Connected

Rosh HaShanah altar

September 29, 2011

Greetings!

Thoughts from the Pastor

Bridges of Understanding:

Seeing the Face of God in the Other.

As you receive this e-mail the Rosh HaShanah services for Temple Chai are just wrapping up in our sanctuary. Their theme for this year is stated above and focused on Interfaith Relations. We are priviledged to be part of this journey with them. But that is not the reason they are in our sanctuary. They are here every year for these services. But this year they have invited me and Pastor Mike McPherson, of Hope Lutheran, to participate in their services. Mike has been with Rabbi Abram at Temple Chai for the two services there today and I have been with Rabbi Hart at the two services here at Kingswood.

There is a long friendship between these two congregations based on the hospitality of Kingswood as Temple Chai was just beginning. They held their first services here at Kingswood and people often come up to me when I'm at Temple Chai or at the Interfaith Services to tell me how much it means that their sons or daughters had their Bar or Bat Mitzva in the Kingswood space.

We have no idea how much good will we are spreading when we open our building to other groups ... or how long that good will will be sustained. But those early offers of our sharing our space have surely made an impact on this community as a whole, even as our current hospitality to Temple Chai on High Holy Days, to Yang Moon Korean UMC, Chinese Christian Fellowship Church and an Assembly of God congregation is one way we spread not only our good will but the goodness and purposes of God abroad in the world.

Thank you, Kingswood, for your many spiritual gifts but especially for your gifts of hospitality and encougagement. Blessed Be.

Shalom, Shalem, Peace,

Rev. Margaret Gramley

Your reflections on this topic ... or another ... would be happily received at margramley@sbcglobal.net or just "reply" to this email.

Thoughts from Luke...

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the Annual Meetings for Journey from PADS to Hope in Schaumburg. Although it included the always less than interesting budget reports much of the time was taken to demonstrate the amazing, relentless support the staff gives to those they are serving. Through a panel discussion they presented a case study for a gentleman, for the person of this article his name will be James, who had difficulty finding a full-time job and housing. They demonstrated how over the years different aspects of their programming including financial assistance, housing and job counseling, employment programs, and the fall-spring PADS sites such as our own at Kingswood UMC were utilized to help him out of homelessness. James himself spoke after the panel expressing gratitude for the continued assistance he received from this organization.

As the season for hosting PADS is soon to be upon us I wanted to let you all know how much of a difference Kingswood makes in the lives of individuals and families in need in this community. Last year alone Kingswood had 738 guest visits at our PADS shelter and over 2,000 meals were served. The changing economic times makes Kingswood's involvement even more important. The need has certainly risen over the past few years with more and more families with children seeking services.

Now that autumn is here and winter not too far away I ask that you pray for those who are without homes, about to lose their home, or are unemployed. And if you are able find a way to help! Whether your help includes volunteering for PADS on Tuesday evenings or finding other missions programs to support, help is always needed.

The Pumpkins are Coming....

Wear your "grubbies" to church and stay to help unload the pumpkins on Sunday October 2nd at 12:30 p.m. Sign up to unload or to work a shift to sell pumpkins in the Fireside room. Confirmands can earn service hours for unloading and selling pumpkins.

First Friday Feast is Moving

Maybe we should call this monthly Friday night gathering a "moveable feast!" In any case, we're moving to the end of the month ... the Fourth or Fifth Friday nights of each month. We'll start on September 30 at 6:30pm and there will be a calendar for the year available at that first get together.

So this "Moveable Feast" is a do-it-yourself potluck and time for learning and discussion. Bring your own table service (including beverage) and food to share with others (a potluck dish). We'll gather in Room 122 this year ... the "glass block room." And besides sharing good food and fellowship, we'll be using a resource featuring John Bell called "Singing the Unsung." This is a video based resource that will lead us through discussions of why we sing, what we sing, congregation as choir, why we worship ... and other topics. We'll also get a chance to sing.

Rev. John Bell is an ordained minister in the Church of Scotland and has produced many collections of original hymns, songs and liturgies. He lectures throughout the world and is primarily concerned with the renewal of congregational worship at the grass roots level.

Children's Church

Children's Church will start back up on Sunday, October 2 at 9 and 10:30am promptly in the Activity Center. Children's Church is for children age 2 through 6th grade. We have planned a lot of fun and different activities. An offering will be collected and the children will be reciting the Lord's Prayer in our community circle.

Children's Church is a short 15 minute teaching moment which will be the first Sunday of each month.

Senior High Youth Gathering

Dinner, Games, and S'mores with the S'Methodists

What: Gathering for all senior high youth. Come have dinner, hang out, play games, and more! Games will be played outdoors, weather permitting.

When: Sunday, October 9 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Where: The Hicks' Residence

610 Twisted Oak Lane

Buffalo Grove

For more information contact Luke Pepper, Minister of Adult and Youth Formation (lpepper@kingswoodumc.com)

Harvest Fest Volunteers

Harvest Fest is coming...Saturday, October 15, 10AM - 4PM

Harvest Fest is an annual community and church event that offers fun for the whole family: petting zoo, children's games and bouncy castle, and pumpkin decorating, craft fair and bake sale, snacks and a barbeque lunch. Music provided by our very own DJ as well as K-LOVE radio streaming onsite. It closes with a special 3PM performance by the Glory Fingers puppet team and Praise Band.

We need your help to make this event a success. Volunteers are needed in all areas. Confirmands can earn service hours too! Sign up sheets are available between services or if you have questions about how you can help, call Lida Ducko at 847.520.9182.

Harvest Fest Bake Sale

The Harvest Fest Bake Sale is being sponsored by UMW and we need of a lot of wonderful baked goods to sell to the Harvest Fest visitors. Cookies, brownies, Rice Krispie treats and cupcakes are favorites. Fruit pies (no cream pies for health reasons), cakes and sweet breads always sell well. Please mark your calendars and remember to drop your goodies off in room 122 by 7 p.m. on Friday, October 15 or 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 15. We will need help calling bakers the week before, pricing and packaging on Friday before the sale and to work the sale on Saturday. Signup sheets are available on Sundays in the Fireside Room. Questions please contact Susan Kenski-Sroka - in the evenings call (847) 459-9743 or email susanks9@gmail.com. With your help, this will be the best Harvest Fest yet.

Fair Trade Sale

Check out the Fair Trade Cart!

Regular and decaffeinated whole coffee beans for sale. Milk chocolate and orange flavored chocolate bars for sale.

Children's Choir has started!

The Children's Choir under the direction of Tim Semanik, has started for the fall. The children rehearse at 10:00 a.m. in room 135.

Come join the fun!

Temple Chai Open House Invitation

Dear Friends...in the spirit of all our good work together, Temple Chai would like to invite you and your entire church community to a Sukkot Open House at Temple Chai on Sunday, October 16 from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. The biblical festival of Sukkot, or the feast of the booths, has long been know as a festival of hospitality and in the spirit of that teaching we hope that you will join us for this celebration.

Adopt-a-Highway Clean up

Kudos to Ali Castriano and her friend for cleaning up Dundee Rd in September.

November's road clean up will be completed by the confirmands.

2012 dates are available for your family, friends or group.

For more info contact sheribrubeck@comcast.net

"Kingswood Cares" Packages

for College-aged Young Adults

Youth Ministries wants to keep our young adults connected to their Kingswood family after they graduate from High School. Congregants are encouraged to sponsor a young adult and send them a care package filled with homemade goodies, school supplies and a personal note from the sponsor. Care packages will be $20 each, and assembled and shipped on Nov. 6, 2011 and February 12, 2012.

SIGN UP: Parents, sign up your young adult and they will also receive a birthday note with a gift card on their birthday from their Kingswood family. If your young adult has a birthday prior to Nov. 6 please send sheribrubeck@comcast.net an email with their name, current address, birth date and store preference, (Wal-Mart, Walgreen's, CVS, McDonalds, or Starbucks.) Forms for the November care packages will be available starting in October in the Welcome Center Kiosk.

Donate School Supplies, Gum and Candy for College-Aged

Young Adult Care Packages

While you're out shopping for school supplies pick up extras and donate them to the "Kingswood Cares" Packages. Donations may be left in the small kitchen, please label them "Care packages." Donations must be small enough to fit into a 7 inch square box. Suggestions are highlighters, pens, mechanical pencils, post its, gum, candy, etc. Thank you for your support of the important connectional ministry.

Make a Difference Day!

October 22

"Make a Difference Day" is an annual program -- on the fourth Saturday in October -- in which volunteers nationwide mount special efforts to help those who need it. This year we are making a special focus on some of the Mission Kit items requested for UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) which help fill many needs. By concentrating our collection effort between October 16-23, we jump-start our new ongoing collection effort in celebration of Make a Difference Day. Some kit items needed are: Bedding (flat full-size sheets, pillowcases), Health (comb, toothbrush, soap), Cleaning-bucket formerly called flood-bucket (scrub brush, sponge, clothesline). Single items or completed kits may be deposited in our Mission Kit Collection Box, where the complete list of contents for the kits is posted. Copies of the lists are available at the Mission kiosk for you to take home or share with others. Monetary donations can be given through the Kingswood United Methodist Church office or website.

If you are looking for additional ways to volunteer for "Make a Difference Day," Hands On Suburban Chicago has partnered with local organizations to list ways to get involved. Find the list of projects at www.hoc,volunteerinfo.net.