JULY EVENTS

July 4, Rev. James Preston, Chicago NW District Superintendent preaching.  Holy Communion. July 11, Interim Pastor Preston Price is preaching. Next yoga class, Saturday, July 17 at 11:15 am. Suggested donation $10.

MAY ACTIVITIES

Holy Sandwich Sunday, May 2.  Our children are raising funds for Haiti.  Come and order your "sub" sandwich after church.  Custom orders! Sunday May 16 Trashathon. Pledges to support conference benevolences. Four mile walkathon, with prizes for best art made from trash found in Ravenswood.  Prizes May 23. Saturday, May 22. Yoga with Cara Jepsen, 11:15am. Also every Saturday in May, 10am, Natural Paths to Healing.  Meditation and natural therapies group, led by Becca Yoder.

BLESSING OF BEASTS

There will be a blessing of animals at the Sunday 10:30am worship (April 18), in keeping with care of the creation, and Earth Day.  All critters are welcome.

COMMUNITY GARDEN WORK DAY

There will be a work day in the community garden on April 10, at 10am.  We will set the rain barrel, clear the beds, turn the compost, and get ready for planting. Come and claim a space for yourself!  Growers plant a variety of vegetables (except for lettuce or other cool weather crops, it's still a wee early to plant.  May 15 is the suggested planting date for this climate).   Also on April 10 we offer yoga class at 11:15am.  Cara Jepsen is the instructor.  Suggested donation is $10.  Class ends at noon.

WE'RE ON FACEBOOK

Check us out on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=324523796154&ref=ts#!/group.php?gid=324523796154

FEBRUARY UPDATE

Lenten Plans   The season of Lent--the 40 day period of preparation before Easter--begins with Ash Wednesday, February 17.  We will provide both a morning and evening service for the imposition of ashes.  That will be at 10am and 7pm, respectively, with meditation and prayers.   We will also continue the tradition of a Lenten soup supper.  These humble meals will be every Wednesday in Lent at 6pm.  That is February 17, 24, March 3, 10, 17, and 24.  We will not have soup during Holy Week, but will instead offer Maundy Thursday service on April 1, 7pm, and Good Friday service April 2, 7pm.   Our soup supper study this year will use the book by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio, "Hungry Planet:  What the World Eats", Napa, California:  Ten Speed Press, 2009.  Each session will focus on the meals of a typical family in various communities around the world, and we will attempt to prepare a meal from their typical foodstuffs.  It should be interesting!  Wait for further instructions then sign up each week in church or by email.    Sister Church Connection   We have established a sister church relationship with St. Matthew UMC, 1000 N. Orleans, 60610.  We will volunteer at their food pantry handing out food supplies, during Lent.  The days of operation are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am to noon.  Consider keeping some time open on those days to volunteer at our sister church!  Let me know if you are interested either by email, phone, or in person.   Pastor Gary

CUP OFJOE

January 10 "Jesus, Mary and a Cup of Joe" resumes at Beans & Bagels, 1812 W. Montrose, at 9am.  We will be looking at Gregg Mortenson's new book, "Stones Into Schools"

Saturday, January 16 at 2pm beat winter blues with aromatherapy. This is a follow up class to our, "Natural Paths of Healing". Please bring an emprt prescription bottle!   Sunday, January 17 in worship, Christian Peacemaking as an answer to violence. Cynthia Okyama Dopke.   Sunday, January 31:  Chili Fest, noon.  Come get warm with a bowl of chili.

JANUARY UPDATE

Upcoming events: January 16 at 2pm Beat