In This Issue
Rejoice Revue
Conversations on Good Sex
Learn Communion Set-Up
Hesed House
Join Us for Casting Crowns
Save the Date for VBS '14
Hearts at Home Conference
Children's Ministry
MATRIX (Middle School)
SUMMIT (High School)
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Grace and Peace to you!  Read on to find out what's happening at Rejoice this weekend and what God is doing in and through our church community.
Scripture Text  
For Sunday, March 2nd

 

1 John 2: 1-6 

 

 "Three Names to Depend On..."

 

On Sunday we conclude our series on the names of Jesus from the Apostle John.  He was the last living original disciple.  In the short letters tucked away at the back of the New Testament he writes his worlds of wisdom, exhortation and invitation to a church of urban Christians in one of the greatest cities of the ancient world.

In our reading he spins out three of the most powerful names of Jesus we have. Taken together they give us the widest scope of the meaning of Jesus for us now!
Ash Wednesday Worship          
Wed, March 5th @ 7PM 

 


Join us for worship and the imposition of ashes on Wednesday, March 5th at 7:00 PM.
Prayer Minister Meeting  
Sunday, March 9th after worship 

Prayer ministers, please plan to meet after the 2nd service on Sunday, March 9th for a brief meeting.  Newcomers to the team are welcome!  If you have any questions, contact Helen Shullaw.
Update on Vision Advance 2.0           
From Pastor Lou...  

 

As you know Rejoice held a Vision Advance weekend at the end of January to take stock of our energies,  reflect on our vision and focus on our ministry priorities. We had about 40 people attend the event.   This was a bold goal for one weekend and we made progress but we were not able to complete all of our objectives.

We did make a good beginning and we plan to (in an unhurried and prayerful manor) resume that task.

So... after Easter we will meet again to continue where we left off and I will take the initiative to help lead this process.  Together we will trust God to give us the creative vibe we need to honor this great opportunity!  With Lent, Easter, Confirmation and other ministries before us, we have selected Friday evening, May 9th to resume this ministry.  I hope you will plan to join us.

Thank you for your prayers and interest in this important ministry and stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the date.
Parents & Teens Join us for "Conversations on Good Sex"  
Saturday, March 8th 6-8PM 

Parents and teens are invited and encouraged to join us for an informative evening & open-forum discussion on teen sexuality.  Presented in a straightforward yet relaxed manner, with humor and cultural relevance, youth expert Dr. Steve Gerali will inform and educate teens and parents on God-honoring sexuality; parents will be equipped to have those difficult conversations with their teens on sex, sexting, dating and much more. 

Free & open to the public, invite your friends and neighbors and join us for:

Conversations on Good Sex 
"Information Parents... Equipping Teens" 
March 8, 2014 
6:00 - 8:00 PM 
Rejoice Lutheran Church
 

Dr. Gerali is an author, speaker, professor and counselor, and is globally recognized as an expert in the fields of  Adolescence, Youth Ministry and Mentoring. Gerali holds two doctorates in Religion & Societal Studies/Counseling Psychology and his Masters in Counseling Psychology with specialties in Adolescent Development & Disorders from Loyola University, Chicago. Dr. Gerali did post-doctoral work in Sexuality/Sexual development and dysfunctions at Loyola Stritch Medical Center, Chicago & formerly served as the Chair of the Department of Youth Ministries/Adolescent Studies at Judson College in Elgin, IL.  

Learn more at www.stevegerali.com.

 

Ash Wednesday Worship Team 
Wednesday, March 5th @ 7pm 

Ash Wednesday is right around the corner and we are looking for people who can serve on the worship team for our Ash Wednesday service on March 5th at 7:00 pm.  It is a wonderful opportunity to help make Rejoice a warm and welcoming place for worshipers to be drawn into Christ's presence for the official beginning of the Lent season.   

 

Newcomers as well as worship team regulars are welcome!  If you are interested, please sign up on the sheet in the narthex.  Confirmands - this is a great opportunity to fulfill your service requirement for confirmation class!

Thank You for Supporting our High Schoolers!  
Upcoming Fundraisers for theLOVEproject:Jersey Shore 

A BIG thank you to everybody who showed up with love to support our high school missionaries - from donating awesome auction items, to the performers, and everybody who showed up to bid at the auction and enjoy a great show!  We are still tabulating the results and will let you know soon how much we raised.

 

Additional upcoming opportunities to support our students: 

  • Butter Braids - purchase some delicious Butter Braids in flavors like strawberry cream cheese, apple, cream cheese, raspberry and, new this year, double chocolate! Butter Braids are $13/each and will be sold through March 13th, with pick up on March 20th.  If interested in purchasing, click here to contact Amy Frazer. 
  • Easter Breakfast - Join us between services on Easter Sunday for our 6th annual Easter Breakfast. All you can eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, fresh fruit, monkey bread, OJ and coffee will be served for a free-will offering.
  • Wash & Worship - Get your car washed while you worship! This year's Wash & Worship will be Sunday, May 18th.

Next Hesed House 
March 8-9  

 

Sign-up sheets have been posted on the wall in the narthex for our March 8th and 9th Hesed House/Rejoice Mission Project.  Please consider volunteering your time and/or food donations and signing up on the clip boards.  We are providing the Winter Menu which includes Cranberry Chicken.  We are serving dinner and breakfast and providing lunches for 150 to 180 homeless adults and children at the shelter.  Your continued help and support are needed!
Join Us at the Casting Crowns concert!  
Friday, March 14th 

 

Do you love uplifting Christian Rock?  Join us for an all church event on March 14 to see Casting Crowns, with special guests Laura Story and For King & Country!  They are playing at 7pm at the Sears Center in Hoffman Estates.  Tickets are at a reduced cost of $19 if we have 10 or more people.  Please e-mail Robin Fogel  if you are interested.  Further info can be found at itickets.com.

 
Save the Date for VBS 2014! 
Join us for "Weird Animals" July 21-25 

 

Kids love WEIRD ANIMALS.
Kids need UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.

At Weird Animals, they'll get BOTH!

God filled the world with a lot of crazy creatures... including you!  When kids feel weird, different, or even lost in a crowd - nothing compares to the unconditional love of Jesus.  Mark your calendars now and be sure to JOIN US July 21st-25th for Weird Animals!


Moms... Love Your Life!   
2014 Hearts at Home Conference

Hearts at Home is an opportunity to join thousands of moms from across the country for high energy main sessions, workshops and a Friday night Mom's Night Out. Through drama, music, and speakers who understand the real challenges of motherhood, you'll find your vision refreshed, your heart full, and your perspective transformed.  Unlike anything you've ever attended, a Hearts at Home conference will refresh, revitalize, and prepare you for the challenges and joys of motherhood.

This year's conference is March 14-15, 2014 in Normal, IL.  For more information about the conference, including a full list of workshops and speakers, and to register, visit www.HeartsatHome.org.
Children's Ministry
Preschool - 5th Grade 

 

Registration Now Open for 1st Communion - First Communion classes are a special opportunity for all children ages 2nd grade or older, and their parents, to develop a deeper understanding for the importance of this Holy Sacrament. Children and their parents will appreciate the interactive sessions which allow them to have fun learning together. Classes meet immediately following the 10:30 worship service (at approximately 11:45) until 1:00pm for three sessions on March 9th, March 16th and April 13th. Snacks will be provided at all three sessions.

First Communicants will receive their 1st Communion at the Maundy Thursday service on Thursday, April 17th @ 7:00pm. Immediately following the service, 1st Communicants and their families are invited to celebrate at a special reception. Refreshments will be served.

To register, complete the sign-up sheet in the Narthex (available starting Sunday, February 2nd) or email Angel Slawinski with the following information:
  • Student' Full Name (as it will appear on the Communion certificate)
  • Parent(s) attending sessions with child
  • Cell Phone#
  • Email address of parent attending sessions
MATRIX - Middle School Ministry
6th-8th Grade

  

No Matrix next Wednesday - Due to our Ash Wednesday service next Wednesday, March 5th, we will not hold Matrix.  We resume March 12th!

Confirmands Serving Communion - One of the requirements for this year's confirmation class is that we  encourage the students and their families to actively participate in worship at Rejoice, and one way to do that is to serve communion and/or greet.  We ask that you serve at least once during your confirmation year.  To learn more about serving and how to get on the schedule, please contact Julie Douglas by March 11th to get on the next worship team schedule.

Update Newsletter Preference - Are you the parent of a new middle school student and would like to receive the eMatrix emailed newsletter?  Click here
to update your preferences!  
SUMMIT - High School Ministry
9th-12th Grade

  

Summit this week - Join us Thursday, February 27th from 7-8pm as we continue 'The Way.'  This week we'll take a look at John 6.  As Jesus continues his ministry, he keeps doing awesome things. Like super awesome. Feeding a crowd of about 10,000 or more people. Wait, I thought it was only 5,000....they only counted the men. Anyway, Jesus talks to people about what the kingdom of God is really all about and most importantly, how we can be a part of it. But the first listeners to this message completely missed the point! Will we? Let's hope not. "The way" to salvation is not a what or a how. Its a "who." We're following that guy.

 

Update Newsletter Preference - Are you the parent of a new high school student and would like to receive the eSummit emailed newsletter?  Click here to update your preferences and choose which newsletters you would like to receive! 

For more information...

If you would like more information on any of the articles above, or if you would like pastoral care, please call the church office at 630.262.0596.

Our office hours are:
  • Tuesday -- 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Wednesday -- 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Thursday -- 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
  • Friday -- 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
We pray God's peace, joy and hope for you this week!
 
Rejoice Lutheran Church
0N377 North Mill Creek Drive
Geneva, Illinois 60134