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Greetings!
Thoughts from the Pastor
This morning Jim and Cheryl Gibson sent the following note to those who serve in the Kingswood Emergency Food Pantry. I think he expresses well the thankfulness for all who support the food pantry in many ways ... with gifts of food, money, prayers and time .... and so I share it with you now.
As we listen to news reports about how many food pantries are struggling with overloads of clients and not enough workers, we feel truly blessed by your presence in our lives and in Kingswood's mercy ministry. You have helped feed almost 4700 people this year, to date. The Lord does indeed provide, bringing us no less than 8 food donations in November alone, and our shelves are well stocked at this moment, but the efforts all of you have put forth during this year (some of you for many years as well) have made this ministry a joy to work with. Whatever the task has been, you have always come through, especially during times of greatest need, and we thank you for that. You are all truly appreciated, and top the list of things we are thankful for this season.
May you all have a safe and blessed Thanksgiving holiday!
With blessings,
Jim & Cheryl Gibson
And thank you, Jim and Cheryl, for all you do to shepherd this important ministry.
It is a time of for giving thanks, and it makes us so aware of how blessed we are. And yet, there are ways we continue to experience hunger ... hunger for peace and justice, a yearning for joy and grace, a longing for the freedom to be all God is calling us to be. As we move toward the beginning of a new church year .... the first Sunday of Advent is this week as we begin to anticipate the coming of God in the child Jesus ... the theme for our worship highlights the hunger and yearning we all know ... and the hope we have that all shall be well.
With gratitude,
Margaret Gramley
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Fourth Friday Feast - November 25th
We will gather on Friday night at 6pm in room 114 for our monthly Friday Night Feast. Bringing your Thanksgiving leftovers would be ok .. or if you are tired of turkey something else would be fine, too. It is a do-it-yourself potluck. Bring your own table service, beverage and a food dish to share with the group. The topic for discussion and singing is Congregation as Choir ... stimulated by the reflections of John Bell from the series Singing the Unsung.
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Advent season is about to Advent!?
Adult Education Options During Advent
9am Adult Sunday School: There will be a 9am adult Sunday school offering during Advent led by Joe Cannella. Come ready to learn, share, and discern where God is leading you during this advent season. The study will be held on 3 Sundays during December: 12/4, 12/11, and 12/18. All adults are welcome to attend!
Thursday Morning Bible Study @ 10am: 
God is in the Manger: Thursday Morning Bible Study in Advent
The Thursday Morning Bible Study during Advent will be using Dietrich Bonhoeffer's God is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas. The book contains daily reflections/readings and each week's class will have a different theme. December 1: Waiting, Dec 8: Mystery, Dec 15: Redemption, Dec 22: Incarnation. This will be an opportunity to explore Advent and the life & theology of Bonhoeffer at the same time!
Luke Pepper will be ordering the books for the class. Each participant is asked to chip in $10 for the books if able. For questions or to express interest you may email Luke at lpepper@kingswoodumc.com. The books will be available starting Sunday November 27th.
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Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration
The Annual Community Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration of the Northwest Suburban Interfaith Council was held on Sunday, November 20,2011, 7:00 P.M. at Saint Mary Parish. The Interfaith Service is an annual gathering of Christians and Jews from many congregations in the Buffalo Grove/Wheeling/Long Grove area giving thanks and celebrating together.
This year's event was attended by more than 800 people. The service included contemporary bands, bell choirs and choirs from Beth Am, Temple Chai, Beth Judea, Saint Mary Parish and Kingswood United Methodist Church. Clergy speakers are Rabbi Stephen Hart from Temple Chai and Pastor Michael McPherson of Hope Lutheran Church.
 
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"YOU MADE MY DAY!"
"THANKS FOR THE BOX OF GOODIES!"
"THIS WAS JUST WHAT I NEEDED!" 
These are just a few of the comments sent from the care package recipients. Many, many thanks to our generous bakers, helpers, donators and sponsors! We sent a record 33 Care Packages on Nov. 6th to our college aged young adults. The jam packed boxes contained homemade treats including fudge, delicious homemade cookies, caramel corn, and brownies plus gum, hot chocolate, granola bars, personal care items and basic school supplies. Watch for their thank you notes on the kiosk outside the activity center.
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UBY's November Activity
Let's have a post Thanksgiving celebration with a fellowship luncheon on Tuesday, November 29. We will meet at the Old Country Buffet at 1 p.m. and share a meal together. (You can be good and only have salads and soup, or go ahead and enjoy the entire buffet). It will be nice to share a meal together as we enjoy the friendship of members and friends of Kingswood. No sign-up is necessary, just go to the restaurant on Rand Road in the Southpoint Shopping Center. Questions: call Connie @847-537-9114. |
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Kingswood Krafters Card Sale
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The Krafters will have their holiday and all occasion cards on sale Sunday, December 4. The handmade cards are only $1.00 each! A package of 5 or 10 make wonderful holiday gifts. Do your shopping early. See us in the Fireside room between services. |
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Feed My Starving Children Mobile Packing Event
On Saturday December 3, from 12:30-5pm, some of the confirmation youth, leaders, and others will be going to Lisle to volunteer at a food packing event! We currently have 20 spots reserved and have a few extra for interested senior high youth, family of confirmands, and others. Anyone interested in attending should email Luke Pepper at lpepper@kingswoodumc.com and he will determine availability. It is a great event!!
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Weekly Coffee Group has Visitors!
The Thursday morning coffee group had guests last Thursday. Seated around the table are the regular attendees. Standing behind from right to left are Gary St.John (former regular) visiting from Kansas, and his guest Don Jones (former Kingswood member). Along with, Kitty Chandler and Bill Chandler who happened upon the group and joined in.
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What's Happening with the Youth?
Upcoming Events!
Senior High Chili Dinner, Cooking for PADS, and Games
When: Sunday December 4th from 6-8:30pm
What: We will cook dinner to be used at PADS as well as cook dinner for ourselves! We will also play games in the activities center. Both meat and vegetarian chili will be available.
Christmas in Chicago:
 When: Saturday December 17th
What: Confirmation and Senior High Youth are invited to take the train into the city to enjoy what Chicago at Christmastime has to offer! We will take a private tour of the Chicago Temple, peruse the German Christmas Market, Windows at Macy's (artist formerly known as Marshall Fields), and possibly ice skate at Millennium Park-weather and time permitting. Chaperones needed.
Youth will need permission forms signed in order to attend. More info and times to come!
Interested in more info on youth events? Contact Luke Pepper at lpepper@kingswoodumc.com
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Website Improvements
Over the next couple weeks our website will be changing. The "old" website will be replaced by a temporary site while our new site is under construction. John Gates is heading the team of Debbi Dickinson, Margaret Gramley, Elizabeth Hicks, Jay Jayapalan and Charlene Vanderhulst to make the improvements. Please contact the church, visit our Facebook page, or use email if you need information. Thank you for your patience during construction!
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Annual Christmas Gift to Parents of Young Children
Mark this date on your calendar , Friday, December 9 from 6:00-9:30pm. Sign-up sheets are available during coffee fellowship starting Sunday, November 13 through Sunday, December 4. This is for children age 2 through 6th grade, at no charge. Children will have dinner and a fun night of games, crafts, and a movie plus a whole lot more. |
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Annual Cookie Walk
Back by popular demand, the Annual Cookie Walk will be held in the activity center on Sunday December the 11th
between services. We will be in need of all sorts of Christmas cookies so we are asking all those bakers men, women, and even some of our talented youth to pitch in and donate a large batch (6 dozen preferably) of their
favorite Christmas cookies. We have always had a great turnout for this event and we hope that this year will be no exception. Volunteers will be needed to package and
arrange cookies on the Saturday December 10th from 9:30 A.M. to about Noon. We will also need volunteers to
handle cookies on Sunday, collect the money and of course help with the cleanup. If cookies could be
delivered to the big kitchen by Saturday morning that would be helpful but we will be glad to take them on
Sunday morning. Questions, please call Beth Jayapalan at 847-913-0135 or email jaybeth76@yahoo.com.
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Christmas Program and Spaghetti Dinner
Sunday December 18
 Sign-up sheet are available today in the Fireside Room during coffee fellowship. Sign-up sheets for the spaghetti dinner along with the children to participate in the re-enactment of the live nativity, plus adult volunteers to help with the children at the craft tables and with costume changing are needed. Questions contact Barb Symonds @ 847-666-4091.
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Stephanie Gates featured in College Magazine
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Help Needed!
Urgently Needed.... two people to help with cleaning the kitchens in our church. The time spent is minimal but this is a very important duty to maintain clean kitchens for our many activities. Two people work together as a team and cleaning time is once weekly for a month at a time. It rotates so your "clean team" only has the monthly shift two times per year! Questions call Jo Stone 847-541-8919.
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Work Camp 2012 is in the Works!
The Interest Meeting for the 2012 Youth Work Camp will be Sunday January 22 at 11:45am.
Those interested should attend and bring their summer calendars with them so we can finalize a date. The trip is open to graduating 8th graders through graduating high school seniors. The work camp will either be scheduled for the last week in July or first week in August. We are asking that at least one parent or guardian attend the meeting as well.
For more information you can contact either Sheri Brubeck at sheribrubeck@comcast.net or Luke Pepper at lpepper@kingswoodumc.com
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Save the date!!!!! 
Rev. Gramley and Rabbi Lisa Bellows are planning to lead an Interfaith trip to Israel in June, 2012. This journey will continue the relationship the two congregations - Beth Am and Kingswood - have been building over the past several years. This 12 day trip will leave on our about June 10.
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This Sunday in Worship
1st Sunday of Advent
Scripture:
Mark 13:24-47
Isaiah 64:1-9
Message:
Advent 1: Hunger & Hope
Ministry of Music:
Chancel Choir (10:30)
King's Men
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Prayers, Joys & Concerns
Ruth Lance is now home after several weeks in rehab.
We offer sympathy to the family of Louise Bates (Kathy DeRosa's mother). She passed away on November 16. Services were this week.
Rita Chandler (Bill's Grandmother) has been moved to assisted living.
John Huffaker, son of Paula and Greg Huffaker (Paula was formerly director of Children's Choirs and Bell Choir at Kingswood), is home!!!! He continues in rehab there and is making good progress.
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Ministry Quick Links
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 Email Addresses and NEW contact info for pastor Rev. Gramley: margramley@sbcglobal.net Luke Pepper: lpepper@kingswoodumc.com In addition, for emergency, contact Rev. Gramley at 847-477-2223 and Luke at 202-957-0350 Charlene: cvanderhulst@kingswoodumc.com Lynn: lschreiner@kingswoodumc.com Barb: bsymonds@kingswoodumc.com Anita: atasher@kingswoodumc.com Elizabeth: ehicks@kingswoodumc.com Office: office@kingswoodumc.com Preschool: preschool@kingswoodumc.com |
Upcoming Events |
Friday, November 25
Fourth Friday Feast
Tuesday, November 29
UBY's November Activity
Saturday, December 3
Feed My Starving Children Food Packing Event
Sunday, December 4
Youth Event - Cooking Chili for PADS and Games
Friday, December 9
Annual Christmas Gift to Parents of Young Children
Saturday, December 17
Youth Event - Chicago at Christmastime
Sunday, December 18
Christmas Program and Spaghetti Dinner
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| Contact Information | |
Rev. Margaret Gramley
Senior Pastor, Kingswood UMC
847-398-0770
Click on this link to forward to a friend not the one below:
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