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Pastor's message... 
Resurrection - what does it mean? This will be our theme throughout April.
We have been wrestling with some heavy issues of late that demand a confident faith. In spite of it all we together will see it through because we have faith in a Lord who lives, in a loving justice, hope and life. We enter this Easter season confident that Christ will see us through different times with love and acceptance. An empty tomb greeted the women who came to anoint Jesus' body that first Easter morning. What a surprise to find the huge stone rolled away...no guards and most startling of all - no body. Suddenly two angels appeared to them and asked, "Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn't here! He has come back to life again!" Who among us today would visit a cemetery to pay our respects to someone who is alive? Yet many Christians act as if Jesus were just another dead historical figure. But he lives! That's the Easter message. In a world filled with so much bad news this is God's good news for each of us.God is Still Speaking; Christ Lives! Break out the smiles, for now there is hope for you and me. Christ not only overcame his death but overcame ours too. We need only to believe in him. I haven't the slightest doubt that the Lord is still in the resurrection business. Nothing in life is more important than our appointment with destiny - our date with death. When we know Jesus Christ and the power of his resurrection, we are prepared for even that. The very earliest Easter greeting in the ancient church consisted of one person shouting to another, "The Lord is risen!" and the other shouting back, "He is risen indeed!" As you read this, let's share the greeting with each other right now. Don't be shy. I'm going to shout, "The Lord is risen!" And I want you to shout back at me with a big smile and all the breath you have, "He is risen indeed!" Now let's see those smiles beginning. Ready! "THE LORD IS RISEN!" What is your reply? May God Bless, Rev. Ron W. Purser |
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Worship schedule...
April 7
2nd Sunday of Easter
Holy Communion
Sermon: "Resurrection - From Temporary to Eternal"
Scripture: Luke 24:13-35
Theme: Easter Season themes based on aspect an understanding of the Resurrection
April 14
3rd Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "Resurrection - From Chaotic Disorder to Loving Order"
Scripture: Hebrew 1:1-4
April 21
4th Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "Resurrection - From Burnout to New Life, Hope & Vision"
Scripture: Matthew 11:25-30
April 28
5th Sunday of Easter
Sermon: "Resurrection - From Brokeness to Wholeness"
Scripture: Matthew 15:29-39
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Activities...
A Book & A Prayer Book Club
4th Monday of every month
7 pm in the Parish Hall
Next Book:
A Voice in the Wind
by Francine Rivers
Next Meeting:
Monday, April 22, 7 pm, Parish Hall
Contact: Kathy Haben, 630.876.0620, khaben@att.net
To celebrate and reflect this Easter Season our LHC readers will be reviewing the book A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers. This book will transport you back to Jerusalem during the first Jewish-Roman War, some seventy years after the death of Christ. It follows the prides and passions of a group of Jews and Romans living at the time of the siege. Ms. Rivers packs a lot of history into this novel and gives insight into the day-to-day living of Christians during the time of the Roman heyday. Our group thoroughly enjoyed reading Her Mother's Hope by Ms. Rivers last year and we're looking forward to another good read.
Please join us in the Parish Hall for food, fellowship and discussion...Bring a friend!
Scheduled Future Reads:
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Choir 
Thank you to everyone who participated in our music of Lent and the Easter Service. The Easter Service also marked the debut of the new choir robes. We are stylin'!
Music Sunday
On May 19th we are planning a special worship service of music. We will present Schubert's Mass in G with guest soloists, orchestra, and our great Little Home Church Choir.
Bells, Bells, Bells!
We have struggled finding the right way to incorporate the bells into worship and find proper time for rehearsals. Here's the solution: Starting this summer, on Wednesday evenings, we will have a children's bell choir practice for 45 minutes followed by an adult bell choir practice for 45 minutes. We will remove the choir pews for the summer and set the bell tables up in the choir loft and then have bell music all summer!
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Education...
Quiet Time Bags
Canvas bags with crayons, storybooks and activity books for children during worship are available in a basket at the rear of the church. Please return them to the basket after worship.
Morning Bible Study 
Presented by Rev. Ron Purser on Wednesday mornings at 10 am in his office. This is currently suspended for the season.
Presented by Rev. Nancy Schatzeder on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 7-8:30 pm in the Parish Hall.
Next session: Thursday, April 18
Children's Sunday School
Held during the Sunday service. Come have fun learning and playing at Little Home Church! For more information, please contact Lori Haseltine at 630.587.1906 or lori-h@comcast.net.
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Congregational Life
The Third Sacrament?
by Rev. Dwight Lee Wolter (reprinted with permission)
Matthew 10:42
"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward."
In congregational tradition there are two sacraments: baptism and communion. But it seems there is a third: Coffee Hour. I am not belittling the sacraments. It simply seems that Coffee Hour is another indicator of communion and belonging. Coffee Hour can be ho-hum or a vibrant, boisterous and truly intergenerational extension of the service where people are standing, sitting, eating, talking, reading, signing up for opportunities. Often I yell "Last Call!" just to get them out so we can finally go home. You can't fake a spiritual presence.
Members gently invite visitors for coffee and cake before they can slip out the door. Many decline at first, feeling good to be invited, though not quite ready or able to participate, but they usually return for church and fellowship.
In baptism God comes to us. In communion we come to God. In Coffee Hour we come to each other. We break a different bread and share a different cup than we do in communion. We use different water than we do in baptism. We touch the same souls in a different way. Do you want to feel "a part of" rather than "apart from" the congregation? Do diligence to Coffee Hour and watch the multiplication of the loaves and dishes.
Prayer
Be with and guide us in all we say and do, and in all the ways in which we gather to know, celebrate and honor you. Amen.
The above piece was first published on the UCC web site under Feeding Your Spirit/Stillspeaking Daily Devotional.
You can sign up for free at
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Council news...
Just a reminder and invitation to attend the Fox Valley Association Spring Meeting, Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the First Congregational UCC, located at 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove, Illinois.
This will be our Annual Meeting which will include revision of our Design for Ministry (Constitution & Bylaws). Biggest change? The addition of a new committee for Fox Valley: Justice and Witness-- thus the theme of our meeting!
Worship will be focusing on this theme which will also lead to a Youth Energizer with our Preacher, Rev. Scott Oberle of First Congregational, dealing with peace and justice issues. There will also be Energizers dealing with Immigration, Domestic Violence, Zoning issues and Mosques, Homelessness, Ecology, and others.
Newsletter: Sign up for the Illinois Conference Newsletter at this link:
Also...
Illinois Conference Annual Celebration, June 14 & 15, Oak Brook
More information on these events can be found on the Fox Valley Association web site. Check it out at foxvalley.ilucc.org
Submitted by Kathy Haben
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Our love & prayers... 
Recently hospitalized or ill:
Polly Heinrich; June Brusewitz
Our Condolences
To Polly & Don Heinrich on the death of Don's son, David Heinrich.
Thank you to our service men & women...
SGT Samantha Prang
SGT Greg Haben
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Open and Affirming... 
Wine and Cheese and ONA
Please join us on Sunday, April 7 from 4 - 6 pm for wine and cheese...and ONA. Join Little Home Church members for casual conversation about ONA: questions, comments, thoughts and fellowship. Non-alcoholic beverages will be available as well.
Please RSVP to the Church office at 630.584.4013 or email lhchomelori@aol.com. We hope to see you there.
Congregational Discussion
The next Congregational discussion will be on Sunday, April 21 at 11 am. Our guest speaker is Pastor Brandon Woosley from St. John UCC in Bloomingdale.
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Upcoming Dates
Wine and Cheese and ONA
Sun. Apr. 7, 4-6 pm
Church Council Meeting Tue. Apr. 9, 7 pm
Adult Evening Bible Study Thu. Apr. 18, 7 pm ONA Congregational Discussion Sun. Apr. 21, 11 am 'By the Way' Deadline Mon. Apr. 22
'A Book & A Prayer'
Book Club
Mon. Apr. 22, 7 pm
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Church Leadership
Pastor Pastor Emeritus Reverend Dr. Don Heinrich Director of Music Organist Larry Dieffenbach
Office Manager
Lori Prang
Moderator Wally Setlock Moderator-elect Kathy Haben Stewardship Ministry Ann McLaughlin Evangelism Ministry Bob Kaska Outreach Ministry Marilyn Poole Congregational Life Anne Bouchard Jane Shelton Christian Education Lori Haseltine Worship & Spiritual Growth Nancy Schatzeder Facilities Dan Roach Members at Large Carol Berger Karen Hansen Gianna Marchese Financial Art Zwemke
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Flowers
& Fellowship
Provide flowers to decorate our altar table or host a fellowship hour after worship as a wonderful way to recognize a special occasion or to remember someone special.
Email the office or use the sign-up sheets posted in the Parish Hall if you would like to participate. A reminder call will come from the Church Office so you can note what should be listed in the Sunday Bulletin.
(Open dates are noted below.)
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Altar Flowers
April 7 McLaughlin
April 14
Alex April 21 Bouchard April 28 Bergland |
Fellowship Hour
April 7 (open) April 14 (open) April 21 (open) April 28 (open) |
 Happy Birthday!
Apr. 2
Kay Brynelsen
Gary Stevenson
Alex Karwowski
Apr. 11
Rich Doerr
Arnie Biondo
Apr. 13
Missy MacCarthy
Apr. 14
Susan Sherwood
Joe Sterner
Apr.15
Rik Alex
Apr.16
Sandy Antonelli
Apr. 17
Cooper Hadfield
Apr. 20
George Bouchard
Latham Weibel
Apr. 24
Peg Schramuk
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