By Maureen O'Donnell--Music, books and art to preview before a PowerPoint about the history of the Celts' culture, art and religion. Discussion of the move from pagan gods to Christianity and how the two were actually blended together and still are today; a beautiful colorful travelogue of Ireland with some of my favorite places and experiences; and I hope all who have traveled there will share their experiences...Bring your own Guiness and Bushmills...!

9 am to 2:30 pm, $40 (includes lunch)

The potential for forgiveness in our lives is mighty & transforming.

If we move to forgive, our lives are freed.

If we can't forgive, our well-being is tied in knots.

How do we practice forgiveness in our world, with our families, with our friends, with our enemies, with our colleagues?

Come explore forgiveness, a grace-filled gift from God.

Rev. Holly Whitcomb, our retreat leader, has been a minister in the United Church of Christ since her graduation from Yale Divinity School in 1978 and has served churches in Connecticut, Iowa and Wisconsin. She is also a graduate of the two-year program for spiritual directors at the Shalem Institute in Washington D.C. A widely traveled retreat leader who directs Kettlewoods Retreats, Holly is also a spiritual director and writer who has published dozens of articles on spirituality. She is the author of four books including Feasting with God, Practicing Your Path, and Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting. Holly lives in suburban Milwaukee with her husband John and has two adult children. 

Please RSVP to Little Home Church

630.584.4013 or info@littlehomechurch.org

1. Slow Down

2. Pray

3. Do the important things with love.

4. Let Go!

This little mantra was God's gift to me three months after I had my minor heart attack in 2012, and was struggling to understand how to live a lifestyle both pleasing to God and one that with keep me alive to see my grandchildren married. I used this in a sermon a few weeks ago as I told the story of that heart attack and many of you related how you have had life-threatening and life-changing events in your lives. When we listen to those events we can hear the voice of God teaching us how to be more of who God created us to be, living more closely in the presence of God and more faithfully in service to others.

This is a great way to live any time and especially turning Lent as we seek to be closer to God and more able to serve. We can't know what God's will is for our lives unless we spend time going to God through prayer, worship, Bible study, retreats and service. 

Here at LHC we are blessed with many opportunities to grow spiritually this Lenten season. A fantastic workshop on forgiveness is available March 21. Who of us can't learn how to be more forgiving? We also have a wonderful Lenten devotional booklet for each household. We have two Bible studies where we unpack the parables that we preach on the following Sunday. And we will have meaningful opportunities during holy week to worship together on Maundy Thursday, April 2; Good Friday, April 3; and Easter Sunday, April 5.

This is a season of reflection and spiritual growth, so come, come to experience church offerings not because you must but because you may. Come to God this Lenten season because you are invited to rest in the spirit of his love for you through Jesus Christ his son.

May the strength of God pilot us.

May the power of God preserve us.

May the wisdom of God instruct us.

May the hand of God protect us.

May the way of God direct us.

May the shield of God defend us.

May your salvation, Lord, always be ours, 

this day and forevermore. Amen.

With you on the journey,

The Search & Call Committee

will meet three times in the month of March working toward completion of our Local Church Profile. A questionnaire seeking the congregation's views and advice on several points has been mailed to members, with our request for its thoughtful completion and return so that we can fold in your thoughts to the Profile that we are preparing. A description of our progress in the search process is included below.

Our personal participation in the Search and Call process is an extraordinary experience for each of the Committee members. The remarks of one of the Committee's members, Alex Kentfield, are included in this issue. We thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Please contact any one of us with your questions or comments: 

Greg Abell 630.204.8277; Carol Berger 630.584.7088; 

Anne Bouchard 630.234.8167; Anne Haben 630.632.8329; 

Matt Hadfield 630.200.2367; Judy Hopkins 630.443.6981; 

Alex Kentfield 630.947.9305.

Pastoral Search Process of the United Church of Christ: 

Where We are Now

Developing a Local Church Profile & Organizing the Search

The Committee is guided in this process by continual availability and consultation with Dr. Jonathan Knight, our assigned Associate Conference Minister (AM). We met with Dr. Knight at the outset of our Committee's work, and he is consulted with our questions as needed. We will continue to meet with him periodically as we move through the process.