Our Spring Blood Drive will be Monday, May 19th from 3:30 to 7:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Please call Ann McLaughlin, 630.443.3531 to make an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome! Every two minutes someone needs blood. Every pint counts. Won't you give the gift of life? click for info

On April 21 the world should have paused for the Holocaust Remembrance Day. Yet I have discovered many did not. At the end of May we will be asked to remember those who have lived and died that this world might find peace. How many will? I find it interesting that for Christians there are two special remembrances during a time of Easter faith remembering. Easter season is a time of new birth, hope, peace and love in a world that struggles to exhibit any.

When we look at the Holocaust, we look at extremes: ultimate fear/ultimate hope; martyrs/murderers; heaven/hell; survivors/suicides; shut gates/open ovens. I don't understand why we are not moved to tears when contemplating these extremes. "The Holocaust," says Elie Weisel, the Jewish survivor, "no longer evokes the mystery of the forbidden; it not longer arouses fear or trembling, or even outrage or compassion." God forgive us. 

There is one thing we cannot do...not assume responsibility for the Holocaust. It happened too easily. We must be moved...the whole world...even seven decades later. Humanity is responsible. I, a middle-class, Protestant U.S. citizen, am responsible. You are responsible. Humankind is guilty. From a cross to human ovens nearly 2000 years later: Where is the religion of love? In this season of spring rejoicing we run headlong into an awareness of the cruelty in life and our responsibility.

Even though, when we face the Holocaust, we run slap into the face of atrocity, even though we feel utterly helpless, still we must care; still we must respond. We must tell God we care. But you say it's over. The millions of Moses bones lie dead in the ground while a scorched covenant listens to silence; hopes like unleavened bread that cannot rise. True, but still we are called to be ministers of reconciliation. Hope builders. The question is: can there exist Christianity after Auschwitz? Can there be love over hate, life over death, Easter over despair? Our Easter faith offers a resounding YES, to the overcoming of the horrors of our world and life. 

We will continue to struggle with the world for the right to freedom and life. We will continue to struggle to remember those who suffered and fought for hope in this world. We will remember to offer this world love even in the midst of despair, for this is our faith. Christ rose that we might have life, all people. May certainly evokes some opposing thoughts. May God be with you as you remember!

Here's a quick update on what your Church Council and its ministries have been doing for you, our Church, and our Community:

 

The Interim Search Committee has received and is reviewing six candidate profiles. Our next step will be interviewing three of the candidates and then developing a plan for review and selection. Exciting stuff!

 

Please reference our web site's Pastor Search page for ongoing postings of information about this process. 

 

We've received several questions regarding the Search Committee and the call for a full-time Pastor. After the interim pastor is in place, we will initiate a search process for a new pastor in accordance with our bylaws that require the guidance of the Divine spirit and with the cooperation of the Illinois Conference and the Fox Valley Association of the UCC. We will invite all of you to be a part of a self-study that will identify our church's pastoral needs. 

 

Some members have expressed a desire to be on the committee. The UCC guidelines say that a Search Committee is really "God's Committee" as they will be doing God's work. It is believed that a "best practice" includes not only nominating but including a brief description as to why the member would be a good fit for the committee. We will also be looking for those members who can commit to the following: Faith commitment, Time commitment, Confidentiality commitment, Openness commitment, and Consensus commitment.

 

If you are interested in participating in this spiritual ministry, or if you'd like to nominate someone for consideration, please see me after church, please call me at 630.816.7723 or email me at gregsasst@aquascapeinc.com. 

 

The committee will have between 5 to 9 members and will reflect the diversity of our congregation. Please note that not everyone who is nominated will be chosen to be on this ministry. Everyone who is interested, or nominated, will be prayerfully considered. You can read more about the process here: 

http://www.ucc.org/ministers/search-and-call/section-3-the-search-and-call-process-in-the-ucc.pdf

 

Evangelism 

Carol Berger hosted a great get-together with our newer members and visitors. It was a time of sharing, reflecting and bonding together. Some history of the Little Home Church and the UCC was offered up and we had a great time breaking bread together. Small groups rock. What type of small group would you like to participate in for fun and enrichment? 

 

Larry, our choir, musicians, Pastor Ron and a guest speaker from Rwanda provided a serene and contemplative Maundy Thursday service. This set the stage for the rest of the week leading up to Easter. The combined service at Immanuel UCC in Bartlett on Good Friday really took us through the last days of Christ, from the Garden of Gethsemane to the crucifixion. It is quite the history we as Christians have to tell - and the story is for us to tell.

 

Our 2013-2014 Council term is almost over. The Junual Meeting will be June 22 and we will be electing our officers for 2014-2015. Here is our roll-call so far:

 

Moderator - Susi Winquist

Moderator Elect - OPEN

Christian Ed - Maureen O'Donnell

Congregational Life - Susannah Lesswing & Jane Shelton

Evangelism - Carol Berger

Facilities - Anne Bouchard

Outreach - Valeri Baldwin

Stewardship - Bob Kaska

Worship & Spiritual Growth - Sandy Antonelli

Member-at-Large - Kathleen Sullivan Kaska

Member-at-Large (or Youth Member at Large) - OPEN

Clerk - OPEN

Financial Secretary - Ann McLaughlin

Treasurer - Art Zwemke

 

Where do YOUR talents lie? Please consider sharing the gifts you've been blessed with, with one of our ministries. Training is provided...no charge!

 

Blood Drive

The next date for donating blood at LHC is Monday, May 19.

 

Questions? If you have a question about anything...please see one of our Council Members, Members at Large, or give me a call at 630.816.7723 or email me at gregsasst@aquascapeinc.com

 

Blessings, and I'll leave you with this: 

 

Psalm 36:6: Your righteousness is like the highest mountain, Your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.

 

Kathy Haben