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 A Word from the Pastor
Greetings!
Who's got your back? and who needs cover from you?
As we continue the exploration of bullying this week, we'll be using one "text" that is not familiar to most of us because it didn't "make the cut" to get into the New Testament canon. It comes from an Early Christian writing called The Infancy Gospel of Thomas. This very short "gospel" focuses on the childhood of Jesus .... from age 5 until his appearance in the temple at age 12. And the stories are a little bizarre ... so their not making it into the New Testament is not much of a surprise. But they are interesting and give us some clues if we want to try to imagine what Jesus was like as a child. Scholars think this group of stories about Jesus' miraculous deeds as a child was written in the middle of the second century ... so a hundred years or so after the other gospels. And that their purpose is thought to be to "exalt Jesus over and against other 'divine men' and 'all other religious and political leaders within the Greco-Roman world'." The stories show the child Jesus trying out his "divine powers" on his friends and in nature ... shaping clay sparrows to which he gives life, punishing kids that irritate him with "withering".... and astounding his teachers with his teachings on the alphabet and other things. (Imagine Harry Potter, and Ron and Hermione, with their wands and spells in class at Hogwarts.)
So what has this got to do with our theme of bullying? My hunch is that even Jesus had to figure out how to use the powers he'd been given. We get a hint of that in the longer form stories of his testing in the wilderness. But as a child ... maybe he was as surprised as everyone else at the capacity he had to give life and to hurt it. And maybe he had to decide ... as we do ... if we'll use our powers for good or for ill, for ourselves or for the whole, to show off or to show God.
I saw a series of posters on bullying somewhere recently and the one that caught my attention was the question, "Who's got you back?" As Christians, we've been given special powers too .... of love and hope and forgiveness. And we are called to use them for good and for all ... for the whole team/community. We learn to look to one another in our need ... and to risk ourselves in providing cover for those who need our friendship and help.
Blessings and grace today ... and all days,
Rev. Margaret Gramley
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Kingswood Challenges Bullying
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In the months of January and February Kingswood is taking on the important issue of bullying among children and youth. Below are opportunities to engage in Kingswood's efforts. This will be a long-term focus but here are some upcoming events!
Sermon Series on the Church's Response to Bullying - January 22, 29, & February 5th
Workshop on Bullying
When: Thursday February 9 @ 7pm
What: Workshop for parents and adults who work with children & youth. Workshop will be led by Jean Bush, former Director of Leadership Development for the Northern Illinois Conference, and Luke Pepper.
Contact Luke Pepper at lpepper@kingswoodumc.com for more information. A sign up to attend the workshop will be available starting Sunday January 15th.
This event is open to members of the community.
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"Kingswood Cares"
Valentine Packages for College-aged Young Adults
On Sunday Feb. 12 in between services, congregants are encouraged to sponsor a young adult and send them a Valentine care package . Care packages are $20 each, and assembled and shipped on February 12, 2012. Recipients also receive a birthday note with a gift card on their birthday from their Kingswood family.
SIGN UP: All college aged young adults who received a Nov. care package will receive a Feb. care package. Please notify sheribrubeck@comcast.net of any address changes or to add a new young adult to the list.
If you are interested in assisting with this project, we'd love your help!
Volunteer opportunities:
Bake homemade shippable goodies - no cupcakes please
Donate prepackaged snacks/candy/gum/cocoa/popcorn
Donate school supplies like pens/highlighters/ post-its
Assist with the assembly line process
Take the care packages to the post office
Bakers! Everyone knows that the best part of the "Kingswood Cares" Packages are the homemade goodies!
We need lots of bakers to fill approx. 35 care packages! We ran out of homemade goodies in Nov. Please bake shippable goodies, (no cupcakes please), & package them into sandwich sized ziploc bags. Please bring your baked goods to church no later than 9am on Feb. 12. Thanks for adding a touch of Kingswood love to the care packages!
Sign ups are in the small kitchen. Questions sheribrubeck@comcast.net
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Volunteers Needed
Sunday, February 5
On Sunday, February 5 volunteers are needed to setup Kingswood for the Northern Illinois Conference
Candidates Conference. Kingswood is hosting this event where pastors will be interviewed for ordination in the United Methodist Church.
We are looking for volunteers to help with setup on Sunday after church. Please notify the office if you can help.
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If you have walked thru the education wing in the last few weeks, you will notice new carpet in all the hallways and room 114. On behalf of the congregation, the Trustees would like to thank Carol and Fred Sullivan, Margaret Gramley and another anonymous donor who gave to this project. Their special gifts, as well as budgeted money, made this improvement possible. Several people have asked why we didn't do the Activity Center, rooms 135 and 122 also. The answer is we don't have the money right now. The Trustees' plan is to replace all the carpet in the education wing over the next 3-4 years, as money becomes available. If you would like to make a special donation for carpet to move this project along please notify the office or put your donation in the offering with a note that it is for carpet replacement.
Norm Belew and the Board of Trustees
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Attention Fall 2012 College Students -
Scholarship Applications Available
Applications for the Dwight Hall and Judy Larkins Davis Scholarships are now available. Use the link below or paper copies are available in the church office.
Please submit your completed applications to the church office no later than March 1, 2012.
Judy Larkins Davis Application
Dwight Hall Application |
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Family Bowling
Families and friends of Kingswood, come and join us on Saturday, January 28, 2012 for an afternoon of fellowship at Beverly Lanes from 2-4pm, in Arlington Heights.
Sign-up for this afternoon of fun during coffee fellowship. The price of bowling is $8.10 and includes shoes. How many games can you bowl in two hours?
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Book Club Rescheduled
 Kingswood Book Club has reschedued their January Meeting for Friday, February 3rd at 7pm at Panera Bread, Strathmore Center, 1228 West Dundee Road. The book club will discuss "The Warmth of Other Suns" by Isabel Wildenson.
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Taste of Kingswood!
Think "Taste of Chicago"...but at Kingswood
on Saturday, March 17 from 1-4pm.
This social event will include different ethnic and homemade food brought to you by members of Kingwood and will include musical performances, crafts, and a fair that helps everyone get a "taste" of what the ministries of Kingswood UMC have to offer!
Sign up in the Fireside room on Sunday to bring food for the Taste!
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Kingswood Peacemakers Group
The purpose of the Kingswood Peacemakers group is to work to bring about conditions in the world that will enable peace to be realized. The group meets the second Monday of each month at 7:00 pm. Meetings are open to all. Please join us on Monday, February 13.
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Winterfest 2012
Winterfest Friday, February 3, 2012.
Time: 6:15-8:30pm
Theme: "Valentine Special" with Dick Stone. Children will make a heart shaped candle.
Come for dinner at 6:15
Chicken strips with all the fixings
The Children's activities and Adult Studies start at 7:00pm.
Sign-up for this popular Friday Night Family Fellowship on Sunday in the Fireside Room.
Mark your calendars for additional Winterfest dates!
Friday, February 17
Friday, March 2
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Congratulations on their Engagement
Suzanne Swanson and Michael Saldarriaga recently got engaged! |
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This Sunday in Worship
4th Sunday after the Epiphany
Scripture:
The Infancy Gospels of Thomas 1:1-5
Luke 2:41-51
Mark 1:9-27
Sermon:
Who's Got Your Back?
Music:
Chancel Choir (10:30)
Allelus
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Prayers, Joys & Concerns
Rebecca Berry was at Glenbrook Hospital for several days being treated for an infection. She is at home now and regaining her strength.
Nancy Robey who broke her foot and is recoveing at home.
Brian Hansen (Bev Hansen's son) hospitalized and recovering
Carl Genrich fell and is recovering at home.
Unadine Brown, recovering from pneumonia at home
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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 |
Saturday January 28
Family Bowling
Friday February 3
Winter Fest
Book Club - rescheduled
Thursday February 9
Bullying Workshop
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| Contact Information | |
Rev. Margaret GramleySenior Pastor, Kingswood UMC 847-398-0770
Click on this link to forward to a friend not the one below:
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