Welcome to Worship 2017

2017

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YOUR LOCAL RELIGION GUIDE

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Welcome to Worship

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Wednesday Journal, September 20, 2017

Open Doors. Open Minds. Open Hearts.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

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t Good Shepherd encounter Christ in each person, and therefore treat one another with trust, love, care, and respect. Recognizing that God speaks to each of us differently, we ask questions and probe for answers together. We value diversity and inclusivity, welcoming all into the church community regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or socio-economic status.

Although it may seem accidental that people find a congregation where they sense a good fit, we believe it’s not just chance that brings us together. Rather, we are called together by God’s holy spirit, nudging us and guiding us. And, in the process, lives are transformed. Together and as individuals we grow in character, strength, compassion, faith, hope, peace, joy. God accepts us just as we are, and brings us along to be and do more than we ever imagined possible.

Vibrant worship is at the core of our ministry,” says Pastor Kathy Nolte. “We love to mix it up with different styles of worship, participation and music from classical to jazz, blues, and gospel music. Recently our youth attended the ELCA Youth Gathering where 30,000 youth saturated downtown Detroit for four days. The youth came back inspired and so excited that a special

Sunday service was created so they could share their experiences. The music? Motown of course!”

We are family-friendly. Children are treasured: over 80 children participate in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.

Youth go beyond their programs and assist in the children’s programs.

We are passionate about social ministry.

Our faith inspires us to serve others. Good Shepherd is active in local, national and global ministries. One of our personal startups is Kidz Express which provides youth in the Austin neighborhood, after-school programming, tutoring and more. Other local organizations we support include CROPWalk, Housing Forward, United Power for Action and Justice, and Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry.

We practice sustainability. We belong to Faith in Place, an group of local congregations committed to green practices and strive to make all our events zero waste. We invite you to take a walk around our grounds to view the sustainable gardens.

Want to know more? Visit www. goodshepherdlc.org. We hope you stop in at one of our Sunday worship services at 8:00 or 10:30 a.m. We look forward to meeting you!

First Pres Looks to Meet Your Real-Life Needs

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o tie? No problem! At First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, folks come as they are, some a little fancy, most decidedly not.

We’re far more concerned with meeting your real-life needs and helping you encounter the love of the real-life God than with what you wear.

We have two worship experiences each Sunday. Both are welcoming and have something for those who are just beginning to explore Christian faith as well as for life-long followers of Jesus, and everyone in between.

If choirs and hymns, brass, handbells, and a massive pipe organ inspire you, then our 9:00 am worship is the place for you. If visual media and a worship band that plays everything from jazz to rock is more your vibe, then our 10:30 am service is for you.

Whichever worship time you choose, you will be warmly welcomed, hear a practical biblical message with real-life application, and be given an opportunity to experience the beauty and wonder, majesty and mystery of God. On the way to or from worship, stop by our Social Hall to get a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, and make some new friends.

Mobility challenges? No problem! Our building is fully accessible with power doors, accessible restrooms, and an elevator that serves all three levels.

Got questions? Got doubts? No problem!

There are opportunities for people of all ages to explore faith in Jesus Christ.

From preschoolers through adults, we encourage you to bring your questions, challenges, and doubts. We have a special focus on Junior and Senior High students and their families. We also have an active Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) ministry and host the men’s and women’s Community Bible Studies. New classes and small groups start Sunday, September 11.

First Pres is a joyful place where people can grow spiritually, connect relationally, and serve sacrificially. Learn more about current ministries, our rich history, and the faith that shapes us at www.firstpresrf.org.

More questions? No problem! Call the office at (708) 366-5822 and speak with Vanessa or Janelle, or email the pastors directly, Paul Detterman, paul.detterman@ firstpresrf.org; or Allison Lundeen, allison. lundeen@firstpresrf.org. We’re here for you!

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“Positive, energetic environment • like the openness and the diversity that is included in the mission • the services are fun and full of families who are engaged in the church • very community service organization • top-notch child & youth programming with small church attentiveness to my child • excellent music program • sermons are interesting and thoughtful” —responses from our new members when asked why they chose Good Shepherd We invite you to visit.

All are welcome.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

ELCA & Reconciling in Christ

A diverse congregation that welcomes all people.

611 Randolph, Oak Park

(corner of East and Randolph)

goodshepherdlc.org | 708-848-4741

—Join us Sunday at one of our worship services held at 8 and 10:30 a.m. Nursery provided. Sunday school and adult education at 9:15 a.m.

—Attend one of our Jazz Prayers, held on the 3rd Friday of every month at 7:30 p.m.

Recharge and reflect with spirited, live jazz music and meditative readings, poems and prayers.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Wednesday Journal Welcome to Worship section Sept. 9, 2015 5.04 w x 5.58 h

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St. Giles Parish and School: Building Community

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t. Giles Parish, located at Columbian and Greenfield in Oak Park, has been serving the communities of North Oak Park and Chicago’s Galewood neighborhood since 1927.

The Joy of the Gospel comes alive at St. Giles through our mission principles of Welcoming, Worship and Walking the Way. Striving to build community within our faith family and the greater world around us, we Welcome the friend and stranger alike. We join together in Worship to strengthen these bonds and to reinforce our call as a parish to share the gifts God grants us each day in whatever way we are able. We do this by Walking the Way of Christian witness through outreach programs and cooperation and dialogue with other faith communities in the area.

St Giles parishioners are involved in dozens of ministries in spiritual life and worship, Christian formation and education, human concerns and parish life. This involvement provides the vision, witness and spirit that make St. Giles a

special community.

Our parish Religious Education program offers formation and education for students in public school and homeschool in addition to sacramental preparation for all students in the parish. St. Giles School, a 2010 Blue Ribbon School, is a fully accredited preschool through eighth grade institution with a before-and-after school program, striving for academic excellence based in Catholic tradition.

At St. Giles Parish, we are committed to giving vision and hope to the future by our prayer and our openness to Christ and the Holy Spirit, who call us as we go forward in love and faith. For more information, please visit us at www.stgilesparish.org or call us at (708) 383.3430.

St. Giles Parish 1025 Columbian Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 383-3430 www.stgilesparish.org

You are invited to join our progressive, inclusive, and green community!

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uclid Avenue United Methodist Church invites you to join us this fall as we follow the radically inclusive model of Jesus. We are a progressive community, committed to social and environmental action.

At Euclid, you are encouraged to get involved by volunteering with our Green Action Team, participating in social justice work, striving for full LGBTQ inclusion in our communities, lending your voice to the choir, joining a book club or a small group, or playing on the soft ball team.

Our Sunday School program offers a creative and progressive curriculum and is led by an experienced team of education professionals and volunteers.

Our children and youth are challenged to not only learn about Bible stories and discover their own faith, but to put God’s inclusive love into action by making meals for the homeless, volunteering, and tending to our gardens.

Welcome to Worship

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Wednesday Journal, September 20, 2017

Euclid Avenue UMC is committed to being good environmental stewards.

Our building is heated and cooled using geothermal technology, our roof is home to nearly 100 solar panels, our parking lot has permeable bricks, and our grounds feature native plants and include a butterfly way station.

We are located at 405 S. Euclid Avenue.

Our Sunday morning worship begins at 10:30 am followed each week by fair-trade coffee and treats from the community.

ST. GILES WELCOMES YOU

Join us for worship at these convenient times Weekend Masses:

Saturday: 8 am, 4:30 pm Sunday: 7:45 am, 9:30 am, 11:15 am, 5 pm in Church; 10 am in Gym

Weekday Masses:

Monday – Friday: 6:30 am, 8:30 am

Ribbon Families with children children can can learn learn more more about about Blue our Blue Ribbon School, which offers offers classes classes for for students from pre-school through through 8th 8th grade, grade,by bycalling calling708-383-6279.

708-383-6279.For Forinformation information on our religious education programs, call call 708-383-4185.

Serving Chicago-Galewood and North Oak Park Since 1927

Fr. Carl Morello, Pastor 1025 Columbian • Oak Park, IL 60302 • (708) 383-3430 • www.stgilesparish.org Two blocks south of North Avenue - Three blocks east of Oak Park Avenue

Welcome to Worship

Special Advertising Section

Wednesday Journal, September 20, 2017

WE ARE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY YOU ARE WELCOME HERE: We like to say “Come as you are” here at Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation.

We invite you to join us in our mission: • Welcoming All • Inspiring Compassion • Nurturing Wonder • Serving Community What binds us together is not a traditional religious belief but the affirmation of our principles. We unite around a covenant; that is, we agree on how to be with one another.

This means that part of what we do is live out the ideals that each and every person is important and that we are all interconnected.

This means that our congregations are places where all people are accepted and where we keep on learning together. And it means that throughout our lifetime, each of us continues to search for what is true and right in life.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: We have the largest Unitarian Universalist religious education program in the region. We mark our children’s lives by welcoming them at birth with dedication ceremonies. We honor their Coming of Age in ninth grade with a special rite of passage program, our youth group for tenth through twelfth grade is youth driven, and as our seniors graduate we mark this transition with a bridging ceremony in a Sunday morning worship service.

Our young people explore the rich history of Unitarian Universalism, world religions, our Hebrew and Christian Bible heritage, making a difference in the world through social justice, and the ideas and feelings about life, love and death. We also offer our first, fifth and eighth graders Our Whole Lives (OWL), a values-based sexuality education curriculum.

A core value is that bisexuality, homosexuality and heterosexuality are all normal. The great diversity among the families in our congregation celebrates these values.

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP: We won’t ask you to change who you are, but we will challenge you to change how you live. At Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation, we engage in something called theme-based ministry. Each month has a theme such as Welcome (September), Courage (October), Abundance (November) or Hope (December).

The Sunday morning worship services revolve around these themes, and we’ll also be asking people to consider how these values are part of their lives.

Each month, we compile a resource packet with readings, books, movies, songs, YouTube clips, blogs and any number of other possibilities on this theme. There are spiritual exercises and questions to wrestle with, elements that make this more than an exercise for the mind, but one for the heart and spirit.

If this sounds like a place for you then please visit us to find out more. Come as you are. You are welcome here.

We won’t ask you to change who you are, but we will challenge you to change how you live.

U U N I T Y TEMPLE

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST C O N G R E G AT I O N

Sunday service and religious education: 9:00 and 10:45 am | 875 Lake St., Oak Park 708-848-6225 | www.unitytemple.org | www.facebook.com/UTUUC

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Wednesday Journal, September 20, 2017

Welcome to Worship

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St. Edmund Catholic Parish Love of God and Love of Neighbor

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faith-filled and diverse St. Edmund community gathers weekly to be nourished by Christ in Word and Eucharist. So strengthened, we are sent forth into the world to love our neighbor.

St. Edmund parishioners participate in many outreach ministries, such as: weekly staffing of Housing Forward homeless shelter (formerly P.A.D.S.), ongoing support of the OPRF Food Pantry with food drives, monetary contributions, diaper and adult undergarment collections, and fresh produce from our parish Peace Garden.

Other ministries involve: Respect Life, clothing drives, domestic violence awareness and support, peace and justice outreach, ministry to the homebound and hospitalized, monthly vigil to end gun violence, and a Green Team to implement Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, to name only a few. We are also looking forward to strengthening our young adult

ministry that promotes spiritual growth, service opportunities and social gatherings.

We welcome the influx of new residents in our downtown area, and new people who may be looking for a vibrant Catholic Faith Community. We are walking distance from these new developments and look forward to welcoming our new neighbors.

We are excited that the Chicago Architecture Foundation has chosen St. Edmund Church as a site for this year’s Open House Chicago, on October 14 & 15. St. Edmund Church, designed by Henry J. Schlacks, with magnificent stained glass F. X. Zeittler windows from Munich, Germany and a stunning ceiling designed by John Mallis is worth visiting. We have one of the most beautiful interior spaces in Oak Park.

All are welcome at St. Edmund Parish. Join us for liturgy. For more information log on to our website at stedmund.org!

Grace Church celebrates its heritage this fall, with music and more!

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his fall special events at Grace Lutheran Church, 7300 Division Street in River Forest, focus on music and education, as Grace members join other Protestant Christians throughout the world in observing the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Grace’s Senior Choir, the Grace School choir, and Joyful Voices will lead a Festival of Hymns on Sunday afternoon, October 15, at 4 p.m., accompanied by brass, percussion, and organ.

On Monday, November 20 at 7:30 p.m., Grace will host a concert by the Thomanerchor, the boys’ choir from J. S. Bach’s church in Leipzig. The program includes music of Bach, Mendelssohn, Schütz and Schein. Tickets ($12–45) are available at BachVespers.org.

Grace’s Cantata Vespers for 2017-18 includes an October 29 performance of one of Bach’s best known works, the cantata based on the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (BWV 80). The prelude to the service, Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony, begins at 3:30 p.m.

Sunday morning Adult Education classes at Grace include an 8-week series on the Reformation. Additional Adult Ed classes

St Edmund, Oak Park’s Downtown Catholic Parish Reaching out from the heart of Oak Park since 1907!

188 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 708-848-4417 • stedmund.org Reverend John McGivern, Pastor Worship Schedule Monday–Friday: 8:30 am • Saturday: 5:30 pm Sunday: 9:00 & 11:00 am; 5:30 pm The people of St. Edmund Catholic Parish are a diverse community of Christians whose beliefs are rooted in sacred scripture and the traditions of the Catholic faith.

Living in God’s grace

focus on “Living Faithfully,” including an October 1 presentation by Anthony Clarke of the Suburban Unity Alliance.

Adult classes, as well as Sunday School, Confirmation and Teen Talk, meet at 9:45 a.m., between the 8:30 and 11 a.m. worship services.

Grace’s educational ministry includes a parish school, with an enrollment of 211 students this year in preschool through eighth grade. The school offers half-day and full-day options for 4- and 5-year-olds, as well as morning preschool for 3-yearolds. Before-school and after-school care is available for children age 4 and up.

Call 708-366-6900 for more information.

Grace Church also celebrates its German heritage by inviting the community to its annual Oktoberfest—though you certainly don’t need to be German to enjoy the cozy gemütlich atmosphere! The festivities take place on Sunday, October 1, 4–7 p.m. The ticket price includes food and beverages (including local craft beer). There will be a traditional Erzgebirge market offering wooden toys and Christmas decorations, plus a silent auction. Tickets are available at GraceRiverForest.org.

we worship Sundays at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.

we learn classes for children, teens and adults Sundays at 9:45 a.m.

we serve in daily life, at Grace and beyond

Joinus us for Oktoberfest!

Join Oktoberfest!

September 4:00 p.m.

October 1,23, 4-7pm David R. Lyle, Senior Pastor David W. Wegner, Associate Pastor Lauren Dow Wegner, Associate Pastor Bill Koehne, School Principal 7300 Division Street River Forest, Illinois 60305 708-366-6900 www.graceriverforest.org

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Welcome to Worship

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Wednesday Journal, September 20, 2017

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St. Bernardine:

To Unite as One Community

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ounded in 1911, St. Bernardine is the only Catholic church in Forest Park.

In the spirit of our patron, Saint Bernardine, who was so in touch with the needs of his time, we recognize our responsibility to nurture the growth of the parish, to unite as one community and to enthusiastically and respectfully gather in praise of our Lord Jesus Christ.

St. Bernardine acted with sincerity, courage and humility. With these same qualities, and with the Lord as our Shepherd, we set out on our journey: • To sincerely welcome others into our community – old and young, those from our community and those from afar. As we have been fed we reach out to feed others; in doing so, joyfully share our love of the Lord.

• To grow in our faith by sharing the Word of God through catechesis and education.

• To share our time, treasures and talents for the good of all. We are enriched by our diverse histories and traditions.

Mass times: Saturday – 8:30 am, 5:00 pm Sunday – 8:00 am, 10:30 am Monday-Friday – 6:30 am Call our rectory at: 708-366-0839 for more information

Celebrating Our 107th Year!

St. John Lutheran Church 305 Circle Ave., Forest Park Rev. Leonard R. Payton, Pastor Rev. Roney Riley, Assistant Pastor 708-366-3226 www.stjohnforestpark.org

Sunday Worship 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School & Adult Bible Class 10:00 a.m.

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St. John celebrating 150 years

t. John Lutheran Church invites the community to join them in celebrating 150 years of blessings and service to the people of Forest Park and the surrounding community.

In 1860, the same year Lincoln was elected President of the United States, a pastor from Hillside began to make monthly visits to Harlem, as Forest Park was called at the time. He met people in homes and even the railroad station, spending the night with a family and returning to Hillside the next day.

entered into a partnership with the West Cook YMCA to provide space for children’s summer and after-school programs.

They also invite the community to various musical events and parties in their community garden.

While the nation fought the civil war, the preaching station at Harlem grew. In 1867, the congregation was organized and constructed a building at the corner of Marengo and Franklin Streets. In 1925, St. John constructed the current building that is located on Circle and Washington.

• Historic Tour of Church – 11:30 a.m.

As our response to God’s love for us, St. John members are free to share that love by serving others. St. John Lutheran School taught thousands of children from Forest Park and the local area for over 140 years. When the school closed, the congregation looked for additional ways to be of service to the community. The congregation currently provides space for organizations such as Housing Forward, Alcoholics Anonymous, Boy Scouts, and other non-profit groups, and recently

St. John invites our friends and neighbors to our Anniversary Celebration on October 1, 2017.

Schedule of Events • Celebration Worship – 9:30 a.m.

• Reception – following service • Reformation Hymn Fest – 4:00 p.m.

• Pot Luck Dinner – following Hymn Fest (reservations requested) The guest preacher and organist for the hymn fest will be Rev. Dr. Paul Grime. Dr. Grime led the development of our current hymnal, the Lutheran Service Book. Dr. Grime is on the faculty at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

For more information, or to RSVP, please contact the church office at 708-366-3226 or stjohnchurch@stjohnforestpark.org St. John Lutheran Church is a member of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.