Greetings!
The wisdom of Ecclesiastes states: "to everything there is a season."  Maybe it is just spring, maybe I am sensing (in a good way) getting older. Maybe it is listening to my sister talk about moving from a home she and her husband purchased and raised their family in. Changes are all around us. People come and go. Homes change, we move. Kids are born, they move to college. Close friends and family die. And I plant my garden once again. The other day I sat on the deck with gorgeous weather surrounding me and thought, as things continue to change, God does not. The constant in my life, and hopefully your life, is God. God's love and compassion. God's grace and forgiveness. God's love in and through others. God's mercy and blessings in day to day living. If you find a few moments, stop and ponder God's constant love and mercy in your life, especially in this season of change and rebirth. Nothing in life or death will ever separate us from God's love no matter what season of life we are now living.
Jim
 
Upcoming May Sermons
  • May 1: Ten Lepers: Saying Thank You! Luke 17:11-19
  • May 8: Good Wine: Even Jesus had a Mom. John 2:1-12
  • May 15: The Demon is Gone: Now Jesus, Go Home! Luke 8:26-39
  • May 22: Servant is Healed: Just Say the Word! Luke 7:1-10
  • May 29: Feeding 5,000: One Big Picnic. Luke 9:10-17
     
May Clubhouse Balloon Fest - Holy Spirit Led!
May 1: The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost. Acts 2:1-12. The Holy Spirit is God at work in us.
May 8: Peter and the Apostles Get Out of Jail. Acts 5:17-42. The Holy Spirit helps us follow Jesus.
May 15: S.S.S.S. (Super Special Surprise Sunday) Craft project to help our CPC family prepare for an upcoming special event ~ SHH! It's a secret!
May 22: Paul Teaches About the Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23.The Holy Spirit helps us be like Jesus.
May 29: Seven Men are Chosen to Serve. Acts 6:1-7.
God gives us gifts to serve others.
Quick Notes: The Children's Ministry is collecting old white or off-white sheets or fabric lengths you might want to de-clutter from your house.  
SUMMER SAVE THE DATE! Vacation Bible School, June 19 - 23, 2016. We're going to Egypt to visit Joseph, and it's going to be amazing! NEW! Registration is now onlineNEW! Pre-order a CD including all nine Egypt VBS songs for $7 ~ or t-shirts for $4.50 (adult sizes slightly higher) ~ at the VBS registration table May 15 or 22 or contact Laura VanProyen to reserve yours today. HELP! We need to borrow items to decorate Egypt for VBS: blankets, tarps, baskets (wicker, wooden, etc.), large pots or vases, hula hoops, wheel barrow, large metal pails or small wash tubs. Bring your items any Sunday morning in May to the Clubhouse check-in area or contact us to make other arrangements. Label them, and we'll return them after June 26. Questions? Contact Hope Petrie or Laura VanProyen.
 
May Frontline Youth Update
Cedar Ridge Camp is June 26 - July 1, 2016 in Louisville, KY. This is going to be an amazing experience for our kids!
 
April 24 - May 15: Avanti's Fundraiser. Order your gondolas from Frontline today; pick it up on Thursday, May 19 from 4:30 - 6 p.m. at CPC.
May 8:  M&M's for Mother's Day: Frontline is gifting moms with Mini M&M's. After enjoying the chocolate, we encourage you to return the tube full of quarters by June. This is a neat opportunity to invite coworkers and friends to give up a trip to the vending machine and pray for our mission trip to Cedar Ridge Camp.
May 15: Frontline Night Out: We'll go hear Ivan Tait speak at iWorshipCenter. Ivan comes across as your average joe, except that he started an orphanage in Guatemala where discarded children never have to know loneliness again. When Ivan teaches from the Word of God, it is compelling! Parents are welcome to join us.
May 22: Senior Graduation Sunday: 
Chatham Presbyterian will be recognizing and celebrating our graduating seniors. Please notify the church if you have a graduating senior you would like us to recognize. 
News You Can Use
Pantry Garden: The garden is about to be planted. We invite you to stop in, sit on the swing and watch the plants grow. This is not just a garden to grow vegetables, but a place to sit and meditate on God and all God's mercies in our lives. And offer a prayer for all those who help with the Food Pantry and every family that is blessed by what is offered. Soon we will have a dedication and recognize those who put so much effort into making this garden a reality.
Benevolent Offering: Don't forget! Our CPC benevolence offering will support Batten Disease awareness and research this Sunday, May 1. Please consider a donation in honor of Clifford Dahl. Learn more at www.bdsra.org.
Food on the First, May 1:
Kids with Karts
will collect food donations for the Ball-Chatham Food Pantry this Sunday. Needs include packages of single serve mac-n-cheese, individual Chef Boyardee noodle meals, packages that include individual serving sizes of fruit/applesauce containers, packages with individual servings of cereal and/or oatmeal packets, granola bars (with no peanuts). Also, the Pantry is collecting copier paper boxes for an event on May 25. If your employer has boxes available, please consider bringing some in.
Women in the Word: New Study Starts Tuesday, May 24. 'Unglued: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Raw Emotions" by LysaTerkeurst. 
CPC Membership: If you are interested in learning more about becoming a member, please contact Amy Bifano, 483-4204. We would love to welcome you to our church family.
 
Joys and Thanks
  • A wonderful Celebration of Life to honor the life of Laura Black.
  • Great help from volunteer team sprucing up the grounds of CPC.
  • A fun day for the youth who helped with chores at Refuge Ranch.
  • Lisa and Mike Rigoni celebrating birth of their granddaughter Isla Rain Rigoni.
  • Spring's beauty!
Prayer requests include: Dan Fain, beginning treatment, Kolton Spencer, health challenges, Mary Elliott, health challenges. Please see Sunday's bulletin for additional prayer requests. 
Prayer Requests may be submitted via email: [email protected]; website: chathampresbyterian.com; or call the office 483-4204, 9 a.m. to noon, weekdays. After hours, call Cindy Gamble 483-3835 (h), 971-1751 (c) or Tina Knollenberg, 652-4715.
Chatham Presbyterian Church
217-483-4204 | [email protected] | http://www.chathampresbyterian.com
 


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Chatham Presbyterian Church | 1835 East Walnut | Chatham | IL | 62629