JANUARY 3, 2017
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful
rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and
blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be
BY LORD ALFRED TENNYSON
COMING UP THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 8
RENEW † STYROFOAM COLLECTION
Rev. Katherine Willis Pershey will lead our 9:00 and 10:30 services on Sunday. Our
Chancel Choir will sing at 9:00 and a quartet at 10:30. At both services, we’ll hear
a Moment for Mission from folks at one of our long-time Mission Partners, Pillars.
At 8:00 in the Chapel, Christian Ventures Committee member Todd Combs will
lead a time of reflection on the subject of mindfulness. All are welcome as Todd
helps us release attachments to thought and form.
Our Green Team is sponsoring another Styrofoam collection and invites you to
bring your Styrofoam (#6) to the chapel from 9am-Noon. Please see details under
Latest News and consider making a small donation to cover transportation costs
to Dart Container Corporation in North Aurora.
Our kids’ choirs will rehearse at 10:00 and 11:35. Our confirmands will attend the
10:30 service and then have lunch together after the service (in the Youth
Room). At 7pm in the Youth Room, one of the adult leaders will lead Plymouth
Fellowship since Mike is on family leave! (See page 4.)
LOOKING AHEAD TO SUNDAY, JANUARY 15
WRITERS’ WORKSHOP † STRINGS † ACE
Rev. Dr. Rich Kirchherr will lead worship at 9:00 and 10:30. The theme of the
services will be Life Together. An ensemble from the Western Springs School of
Talent Education will share its musical gifts.
At 9am in the Kemper Library, Katherine will lead a workshop for those who would
like to contribute to this year’s Lenten Devotional, the theme of which will center
on Micah 6:8. Our confirmands will meet at 10:15 and a sub-group will prepare
and serve a Night Ministry meal in the afternoon.
At 10:15, Adult Christian Exploration (ACE) will resume in the Seim Room. Guest
speaker Dr. Scott Paeth will reflect on the Christian world before the
Reformation. All are welcome. (See details and the full ACE schedule under
Latest News.) Our Christian Ventures Committee will meet at 11:30 and PF at
7pm.
Page 2
CIRCLE THE CITIES
WITH LOVE: JAN 15
Our nation has just
endured one of the most
divisive and hate-filled
election seasons in our
history. We need to begin
anew and STAND FOR
LOVE!
On Sunday, January 15,
all are invited to
gather in silent witness to
embody the power of
love that brings healing,
peace and justice to our
cities, our country and
our world in locations
across the country on the
same day and at the
same time.
This collaborative event
will be held from 2-2:30 at
St. Joseph, 1515 W.
Ogden Ave., LaGrange
Park. (The group will
begin gathering at 1:45.)
Circle the Cities with Love
was born out of the
desire to host a nonpartisan, no-issue witness
for love and peace.
All are invited to join in
and help heal our
country by witnessing for
love and for peace. To
register, log on to:
circlecitywithlove.com
J a n u ary 3 , 2 0 1 7
M ARK Y OUR C ALENDAR
HO. HO. HO. It’s not nearly as fun to
undecorate for Christmas as it is to
decorate. If you can help this
Saturday morning (Jan 7) at 9am for
an hour or two, that would increase
the fun factor (or at least expedite
the process). Our Diaconate would
be most appreciative.
129th ANNUAL MEETING. On Sunday,
January 22, we will have one service
only at 9am followed by our 129th
Annual Meeting of the Congregation.
Childcare will be offered during the
30-minute meeting, and coffee and
refreshments will be served for all
ages in Plymouth Hall after the
meeting.
DINING FOR WOMEN will meet in the
Seim Room at 6:30 on Tuesday
evening, January 10. (Soup and salad
makers are to come to the Plymouth
Hall kitchen at 5pm.) Dining for
Women’s grantee for January is Mith
Samlanh. Contact Laurel Seidelman
to learn more or to join the group.
DR. KELLY
FLANAGAN
RETURNS TO FIRST
CONGO. Our next
Men’s Faith and
Fellowship
Breakfast is
January 14 at
7:45am and our
guest is Dr. Kelly Flanagan, who will
reflect on transitions in men’s lives. Dr.
Flanagan is a licensed clinical
psychologist and a thoughtful author
and blogger. Newcomers are always
welcome to join the group for good
fellowship and food and thoughtful
reflection on faith and life’s changes.
MOMS OF TEENS will meet on
Wednesday, January 11, at 7pm in
our Parlor. This is an informal group
and open to all moms of teens (within
and outside the church) looking for
encouragement and support.
Meredith Onion leads the group and
can answer any questions you may
have: [email protected].
MINISTRY AND CHURCH COUNCIL
MEETINGS. Members of our governing
committees will meet at 7pm on
Monday, January 16. Church Council
will convene at 8:30, and all members
are welcome to attend.
CALLING THOSE WHO ARE CALLED TO
CARE. Members interested in learning
more about this new ministry of
compassionate care and who are
available to attend the three training
dates below, should contact program
coordinators, Ben Pershey or Mary Lee
Gosz.
 Saturday, January 14, 11:30-5:00
 Wednesday, January 18, 6-9pm
 Wednesday, January 25, 6-9pm
INTERSECTIONS:
CONVERSATIONS
ABOUT FAITH AND
CULTURE. Last
year’s book
discussion group
will continue in
2017 and will meet
next at 11:45am on
January 29.
Discussion leader
Katherine Willis
Pershey has
recommended the highly acclaimed
book Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a
Family and Culture in Crisis.
Newcomers are welcome to join the
informal group, which will meet in the
Seim Room. Guests are invited to bring
a sack lunch. Please contact Katherine
with questions.
DATE SET FOR JANUARY MEETING OF
WOMEN IN FAITH. Our new
intergenerational, once-a-month
group will meet next on Wednesday
evening, January 25, at 7pm in the
parlor. This group will also read and
discuss Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a
Family and Culture in Crisis. Members
and friends of the church are welcome
to participate as their schedules
permit. For more information, contact
Katherine at [email protected].
G a t h er i n g s
Page 3
G OD ’ S G ARDEN P LANT
S ALE
Sales continue for God’s Garden
surrounding the Fellowship Fire Circle on
the west side of the Education Building.
God’s Garden is expected to be a
place where youth groups will enjoy
fellowship, preschoolers and Sunday
school students will read stories, small
groups will meet, individuals will pray,
and all will grow and revel in the
beauty of God’s creation.
As a reminder: funds for the fire circle
were contributed through private
donations and a private memorial
fund. The hope for God’s Garden is
that members will help support it
through memorial or general
donations. Tax deductible donations of
any amount are welcome. A donation
of $800 will buy an eight foot evergreen
tree, $200 a flowering hydrangea or
evergreen boxwood, and $25 will go
towards a group of plants in the
butterfly or hummingbird areas.
You can find the donation link on the
God’s Garden page under Latest
News at wscongo.org. Earmarked
donations will be identified for a
season with a copper plant marker.
After the season, the marker will be
given to the donor.
The sale will conclude on the first day
of Spring, after which time the
smaller garden elements will be
planted.
If you have any questions regarding
God’s Garden, contact Properties
Committee members Jane Booth or
Jay Barnes.
to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Bring your imagination and your
experiences to the Writers’ Workshop at
9am on January 15 and leave with the
tools and inspiration you need to share
in this meaningful ministry.
The following classes take
place on Sunday mornings
from 10:15-11:30am in our
second floor Seim Room.
Complimentary childcare is
offered in Rm. 108. The
classes stand alone, so
come as your schedule
permits. The programs are
free and open to all.
Program explanations can
be found under Latest
News.
•••
January 15: The World
Before the Reformation
(Scott Haldeman, CTS)
February 19: The Main
Themes of the Reformation
(Scott Haldeman, CTS)
March 12: Micah Project
Program: UCC History of
Mercy of Vulnerable
(Rich Kirchherr)
B RIEFLY
LENT 2017. Our Christian Ventures
Committee, co-chaired by Marv
Baldwin and Sue Spear, is finalizing
plans for Lent, which begins on March 1
(Ash Wednesday). The theme of this
year’s Lenten Devotional, to which we
hope lots of folks will contribute, is
drawn from the text of Micah 6:8: And,
what does the Lord require of you but
GROW IN FAITH &
UNDERSTANDING THROUGH
SUNDAY MORNING ADULT
CHRISTIAN EXPLORATION
(ACE) CLASSES
2017 PLEDGE SUPPORT. To all who
have submitted their pledge form for
2017, thank you. To those who have
yet to do so, please submit it as soon
as you are able so that our Finance
Committee can finalize our 2017
budget well before our Annual
Meeting on Sunday morning,
January 22.
DID YOU KNOW that audio files of our
sermons are available not only on
our website but also through iTunes
and other podcast apps? Simply
search First Congregational Church
of Western Springs and download
the sermons you’d like to hear.
March 19: Micah Project
Program: Doing Justice (Eva
Campbell Pusateri,
Consultant & FCC member)
April 23: Two Reformers
(Scott Haldeman, CTS)
September 17: Two More ..
The Swiss? (Scott
Haldeman, CTS)
October 22: Luther’s 99
Theses, Then & Now (Scott
Haldeman, CTS)
November 5: Semper
Reformanda (always
reforming) The Future of the
Church (Rich Kirchherr)
P A S T O R A L S TA F F
Rich Kirchherr
Senior Minister
Katherine Willis Pershey
Associate Minister
Meredith Onion
Associate Minister
Deb Stankiewicz
Parish Nurse
Gatherings is a biweekly
publication of the First
Congregational Church of
Western Springs. Articles for
inclusion should be
submitted to Meg Heinz at
gatherings @wscongo.org.
Gatherings is emailed to
members and posted on-line at
www.wscongo.org.
BITS & PIECES
IN OUR PRAYERS. Please hold in your
prayers this week: Claudia Becker
(home); Marilyn Keil (Health Center at
Plymouth Place); Ellen Chivas (Health
Center at Plymouth Place); and Sue
Niccolai (Manor Care).
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING for
Charlie Kienzle’s full recovery. (We
were delighted to see him in worship
on Christmas Eve!)
STRAIGHT FROM HEAVEN.
Congratulations and best wishes to
Mike and Laura Tilden who welcomed
James “Jimmy” David to their world
on December 31. (Mike is taking a
three-week leave to be home with
Laura and Jimmy.)
WEEPING WITH THOSE WHO WEEP. Our
condolences go out Nancy and Dan
Stoettner and family on the recent
passing of Nancy’s father.
CIRCLE OF LIFE. We are holding Donna
and Rick Nichols in our prayers as they
celebrate the birth of their sixth
grandchild, Hannah Jane Fletcher,
born on Dec. 5, and mourn the Dec.15
passing of Donna’s dad, Don
Lammering.
KUDOS to Kathryn Price Bronson on
completing her Masters of Divinity at
CTS. She’ll officially graduate in May!
IN TRANSITION. Scott and Ann Hamilton
recently moved to 5150 Woodland
Avenue in Western Springs. We wish
them all the best in their new home.
A YEARLY CHECK-IN FOR COUPLES. In
her recent article for
IgnatianSpirituality.com, Becky
Eldredge suggests now is a good time
for couples to check in with each other
through prayer, reflection, preparation,
and dialogue. See the full article at
http://
www.ignatianspirituality.com/25068/
yearly-check-in-for-couples.