October 4, 2009

World Communion Sunday

Prayer List - To see prayer concerns, please visit our prayer board here.

Upper Midwest Regional Prayer Calendar - may be viewed here

Important Dates

Oct. 4 Great Communion, Valley Christian Church 4 PM
Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28 Choir 7 PM
Oct. 11 CROP Walk
Oct. 13 Board Meeting 7 PM
Oct. 16 Senior’s Lunch, Lakeshore Grill 11:30 AM


CROP Walk 2009

This year’s CROP Hunger Walk campaign is just getting underway and already we have 10 Walkers! There will be a couple of changes to the event this year.

IOCP will receive 6.25 of the NW Suburbs total earnings to help in the local community. In addition to raising funds, this year’s walkers and congregations are encouraged to bring canned goods to the walk. PCCC has been asked to donate soup for IOCP

The walk will be held on October 11. If you would like to be a part of the team or you would like to sponsor a walker, please contact Chana Weaver.


Hunger Progress and Distress

• In September 2000, 189 countries, including the United States, endorsed the Millennium Development Goals to cut in half the percentage of people living in extreme poverty and substantially improve health and education in impoverished countries by 2015.
• In 19 developing countries, the number of hungry has dropped by 80 million over ten years.
• However, higher food prices are likely to push 100 million deeper into poverty.
• Over 923 million people around the world remain hungry – more than the population of the western hemisphere.
• Most of these people are not victims of famine, but suffer from chronic hunger and malnutrition that stunts growth and saps energy and potential.
• Every day, more than 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes – about one child every five seconds.
• 1.4 billion people live below the international poverty line, earning less than $1.25 a day.

What is poverty? To come home and see your children go hungry and not have anything to give them.
Brazil

Friday, October 2, 2009

Dear Friends,
What a week! This has been a week of tremendous suffering, as we have witnessed a destructive tsunami which struck American Samoa, Western Samoa, and the small northern island of Niuatoputapu in Tonga; massive monsoon rains and subsequent flooding in the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia; earthquakes in Indonesia; an ongoing famine in Kenya; and the more than 12,400 families in Georgia who have applied for federal assistance following the severe flooding in that state. A week of suffering, and a week of compassion.

In every case, we have been there. We respond. Thanks to our long-standing, trustworthy and close partnerships with implementing organizations Church World Service and ACT International, and in communication and coordination with our Global Ministries partners and councils of churches, we know what is needed when the disaster strikes. And we respond accordingly. Immediately. Efficiently. Effectively. This is what we do. This is what YOU do. Together, as Church, we turn a week of suffering into a Week of Compassion.

"Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?"

Disciples, we have seen. We see. Let us always take care - as we have done this week. And let us continue to care for so many who are just now beginning the process of recovery and healing. We're in it for the long haul. Committing to caring for the journey - that is what we do, together. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your compassion and contributions.

Around the World, Around the Year: Where in the World Have We Responded This Week?

Disaster Responses:
Samoa, emergency aid
Indonesia, earthquake
Honduras,political crisis
Philippines, tropical storm/flood relief
Missouri, ongoing storm recovery

(Excerpts from State of the Church 2009)
What I hear as the state of the church in the Upper Midwest is something different and I boldly proclaim . . .

I believe that we are reclaiming that different ministry and way of being ‘church’ that our founders dreamed of when they first set out to put forth a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world.

Here is what I have heard in the last six months to inspire me to believe that we have arrived:
*I have heard the Regional Board get excited about moving in some radically different directions not just to save money, not just to make a move out of desperation, but out of a vision and a dream to see where God might be leading us again.
*I have heard that even though the economy is down, and we budgeted to be down 4% in Disciples Mission Fund giving, You, the Congregations in the Upper Midwest, found a way to increase the giving over this time last year. And you didn’t do it by just a little, together you increased it by $30,000, an increase that we have not seen in over a decade. But that’s not all…
*I have heard that though we started this year with a line of credit debt of $190,000, not only have we not had to borrow anymore money this year, we have been able to pay the line of credit down by $60,000.
*When we first put out word that we would be hosting a retreat for those who might be hearing a call to ministry, our first call, was from the mother of a ten year-old who wanted to know if her son could attend. He is not alone, I have heard the voices of many who are hearing the calls to ministry. We, as Disciples Together are raising up a new generation… To all the members of the Region’s Commission on Ministry; “Get ready you are going to be very busy.”

For all these things, “I am thankful you all have arrived! Oietchu!”

To read the complete State of the Church 2009 or other Regional Transition documents, go to www.uppermidwestcc.org

A Table Before Me: God's Open-Armed Adventure
Come Join the Adventure!

2009 Adventure in Mission– TABLE HOSPITALITY

Every month will include a different focus; every quarter will bring a new activity; every season will provide more challenge to increase your understanding of Mission, deepen your commitment to Mission, develop your capacity for Mission stewardship.

October Mission Focus: CROP Walk
November Mission Focus: The Sleep Out


Women's Tea
November 14, 2009

Anyone interested in helping to organize the annual Women's Tea, please contact Glenda Glore.


Coffee Time
Reminder- Plymouth Creek Christian Church sells Fair Trade Coffee! Part of your purchase goes to provide hunger relief assistance. $6 a bag; pick it up from the display in the Welcome Center, next to the Church Office.

Currently, we’re selling three types- Breakfast Blend pre-ground, both regular and decaf, and French Roast whole bean. But there are more options available, which you can look at on the equal exchange website. at interfaith.equalexchange.com

Let Pastor Shane know if you want something else, and we’ll add that to the mix. Thanks for participating!

Metonia

"Are You Enough"
Metanoia is an ecumenical Christian Retreat for women with the purpose of celebrating our unity in Christ and encouraging us to respond to God's call in our lives as we learn and grow spiritually, personally and in relationships.

Metanoia is a Greek word meaning:
"Desired change of heart and mind found in the knowledge of Christ Jesus"

Metanoia stirs up the SPIRIT OF GOD in your soul, by living, learning, and sharing with dedicated and devoted sisters growing in Christ

This year’s Keyonter is: Jackie Quinn

Metanoia I - (October 14-16, 2009), Chistian Conference Center
Metanoia II - (October 16-18, 2009), Chistian Conference Center

October Sermon Homework-
For the month of October, Pastor Shane is preaching a sermon series titled "Adventures of Biblical Proportion." Here are the scriptures to look at ahead of time. Consider it your sermon homework for the month. No tests, but gold stars and extra credit for those who complete the homework on time!
October 4- Daniel 3- The Fiery Furnace
October 11- Judges 15:9-19- Samson and the Donkey Jawbone
October 18- Judges 4 - Deborah and Jael
October 25- Acts 27:1-2, 7-11, 13-15, 18-20, 27, 39, 42-44- The Shipwreck of Paul

This I Believe Invitation

In July and August, a small group of Plymouth Creekers studied the wonderful book "Unbinding the Gospel," which helps Christians share their faith more lovingly and courageously. One of its central claims is that we often have difficulty sharing our faith because many of us just don't know what to say! We know Jesus and church are important, but they're so personal that words often escape us. So if we want to get better at sharing faith (and I know I do!!), we need to practice. And what better place to practice then the supportive, intimate community that is your church, Plymouth Creek?!

So the group concocted an idea. Have you ever heard of the NPR series, "This I Believe"? It's real simple. Normal, everyday people write a short essay describing ONE THING they believe, and telling the story of why that is. My favorite is "I believe in always going to the funeral..." Check out thisibelieve.org if you want to learn more.

Anyway, we want every person at Plymouth Creek to write a "This I Believe" essay regarding one aspect of your faith. Each week for the next year, we will put one or two of these in the weekly bulletin insert, so that we can learn from each other what's important about faith, and how to put that into words. One wrinkle: We won't publish your name. Every essay will be anonymous- so no one needs to feel self-conscious, competitive or worried about judgment. Only Pastor Shane will know who wrote the essay (or not, if you just slip it under his door!).
Sound intriguing?! I hope so. Remember the ground rules, 1) 350-500 words, 2) Tell a story; make it personal, 3) Describe one thing about your faith, i.e. don't try to include everything. Email them to pastor@plymouthcreek.org, or hand it to Pastor Shane, or send it via snail mail. Our first installment will be next week and, hopefully, over the next year, every person at Plymouth Creek will have a turn. Thank you, in advance, for sharing your faith. May the intimacy this creates, and boldness it fosters, lead more people to know the glory and grace that is Jesus our Lord!!!

Fall Sunday School Schedule(s)
Reminder- Sunday School has started. 9 AM (8:45 for Adults) every week. Get ready for another adventure in learning. Here's what's happening for:

Children (through fifth grade)- Chana Weaver is teaching about Heroes! No Cape required, but come (or bring your kids and grandkids to) learn about the heroes of faith, and be inspired.

Youth (sixth through twelfth grade)- Pastor Shane is teaching about Liquid...? Liquid is an inspiring series of short DVDs that deal in a hip way about fresh and relevant topics for youth. To start- Issues of change and crossing over to new places in life. Upcoming- God's Top Ten! Oh, and there's gonna be a whole lotta fun!

Adult- (everyone else!)- This will be lay led and team taught. We will use DVD series about contemporary issues of faith and practice, which will combine good teachers with important life questions. First up- A six-week series on Prayer and stories of prayer in the Bible. Next- you decide!

Pastor's Pen - Click here to read Pastor Shane's latest letter