Sharing Joys & Concerns Please keep these persons & events in your prayers: Grandpa Hook, who ‘s back in the

hospital. (Evin & Cole Hook) A dear friend who has made the choice

to not seek cancer treatment. (Zach) Norm Mitchell, whose partner, David

Novak, died yesterday. They were together for 45 years. (Zach)

The Anderson family as Carolyn’s dad is now under hospice care. (Zigtermans)

The Pelon family during a very difficult pregnancy. (Zigtermans)

Everyone who is living with ALS and for a cure!

My cousin, Wendy Coogan in her struggle with ovarian cancer; my father, Bill Knox, in his struggle with bladder cancer; & Dave Bassett & Drew Leavy in their stuggle with melanoma. (Cindi Knox)

Music director & friend, Doug Orlick, who received a pacemaker & is still suffering with mild seizures after a brain injury. Terry Foster-Hulbert)

Courtney, who is dealing with a parent addicted to drugs & is having to separate herself from her mother for her own sanity. May she find peace. (Barb Conkrite)

Rachel Rhodes, who has injured her shoulder.

Those unemployed and give thanks to the interview opportunities. (Vicki)

Thank you dear Lord for leading me to HOPE UCC. Thank you Joe for your invitation & to HOPE UCC for welcoming me. (Barb Davis)

Destiny, one of “my kids” who fell down the stairs & will be out of school for the rest of the year. She is an AMAZING young lady! (Peter)

Dave Bassett celebrating his 60th birthday with his entire family and friends on Saturday. Also prayers for him and his family as he continues his cancer treatment. (Timoth & Peter)

☺ Good News! Bev Jacobs is able to be a support person for others with MDS. (Barb Z.)

Whenever on a journey, I believe it is important to have a clear sense of the beginning as well as the end. And in our remembering, perhaps we create “book-ends” to set apart that chapter in our life that was devoted to the journey. Lent has been our most recent journey, our “40 days in the wilderness.” It has been a time to reflect and pray as we take the steps with Jesus toward Jerusalem. And now, we prepare to close the chapter once again.

I would like to “book-end” our journey by once again sharing the words of poet Ann Weems. She writes this poem, entitled “Easter” in her book Kneeling in Jerusalem.

Just when I thought there would be no more light in the Jerusalem sky, the Bright and Morning Star appeared and the darkness has not overcome it.

This Lenten journey has been especially unique, as our faith family has journeyed now just with Jesus toward Jerusalem and beyond but we have also taken great strides in our own search for new life. Author Paul Nixon’s words ring true in the current life of HOPE United Church of Christ, we have truly taken the attitude of “choosing life over death.” We are about to begin a new life, experiencing our own resurrection, bringing a renewed light into our communities and the world. What HOPE UCC has to offer is too good to be locked away in a dark tomb, too necessary to be kept to ourselves. The gifts that God has given to us are meant to be shared far and wide. This year, as we celebrate our understanding of resurrection, as we perhaps encounter Jesus in a new way, may we do so with the knowledge that God continues to lead us beyond the tomb, beyond the dark times of our journey and invites us spread the Good News. God has done great work in the life of our church, and this Easter we celebrate again that there is new life among us, a new beginning, and a light that darkness cannot overcome. Thanks be to God! Pastor Timoth

04/20/11

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter Sunday “Why Are You Weeping?”

Jeremiah 31:1-6 John 20:1-18

Rev. Timoth Sylvia

HOPE United Church of Christ 9931 S. 248th Avenue Naperville, IL 60564-5810

Pastor Timoth Cell – 630-853-4673 Pastor Timoth Email – Pastor@sharehope.org Office Phone – 630-92200470 Office Fax – 630-922-0475 Office Email – hope@sharehope.org

Celebrating Birthdays 04/21 Tim Higgins 04/21 Kim Becker 04/22 Zach Jarabeck 04/26 Michelle Less 04/27 Linda Smith 04/27 Shannon Lane

If we’ve missed your birthday, please email Gail at the HOPE Center HOPE@shareHOPE.org. We’ll add you to the list.

Celebrating Anniversaries 04/20/1979 Bill & Barb Zigterman 04/21/1996 Mark & Karen Garland 04/24/1999 Mary Dycus & Cindi Knox

We would love to celebrate your anniversaries, too! Please email Gail at HOPE@shareHOPE.org with your anniversary dates.

Deadline for additions or corrections to the next issue

of HOPE Happenings is April 27, 3:00pm.

Thanks!

Announcements for the Sunday Bulletin due by

Wednesday of each week.

HOPE’S Leadership

Pastor: Rev. Timoth Sylvia Moderator: Marie Higgins Des. Moderator: Joe Newton Treasurer: Ron Rolland Secretary: LaRissa O’Neal Registrar: Mary Dycus Social: Shannon Lane Education: Cheryl Rhodes Outreach: Mark Duebner Mission: Ginny Bateman Pastor-Parish: Matt Tucker Resource: Linda James Worship: Keith Cornell

HOPE LIBRARY You may reserve items (books, videos or tapes) by calling Gail (630-922-0470) at the Ministry Center during office hours (9 p.m. to 3 p.m.); by checking them out at the Ministry Center any time it is open; or by calling Martha Selby, HOPE Librarian, at (630) 355-3709.

Quest Quote of the Month Your search for true healing will be a suffering search. Many tears still need to be shed. But do not be afraid. The simple fact that you are more aware of your wounds shows that you have sufficient strength to face them.

---Henri J.M. Nouwen in The Inner Voice of Love

QUEST MINISTRIES

ADULT QUEST Construct Your Own Theology Part 6, Soteriology: Salvation We will discuss our own thoughts about salvation Facilitated by Cindi Knox

SR. HIGH QUEST Conversations using The Thoughtful Christian curriculum. Taught by Les Pierce

JR. HIGH QUEST Conversations using The Thoughtful Christian curriculum. Taught by Cheryl Rhodes

KIDS QUEST Opening Our Hearts In Prayer One way we can build an awareness of our inner wisdom, as well as create a spiritual life, is through prayer. Taught by Mary Dycus

VOLUNTEER DUTIES Task 24-Apr 1-May Scripture Reading Ginny Bateman Martha Selby Community Prayer Timoth Sylvia Mary Kroening Children’s Time Timoth & Mary K. Roberta & Zach Worship Table Mark Duebner Mark Duebner Usher Dee Zillmer Marie Higgins Usher Dave Zillmer Tim Higgins Usher Cheryl Rhodes Bill Zigterman Usher Zach Zigterman Greg Streul Supply Transport Linda Ley Shannon Lane Nursery & Kids Quest Set Up Linda Ley Shannon Lane Inside Signs Linda Ley Shannon Lane Welcome Table Peter Oliver Mary Dycus Coffee & Snack John Kroening Ginny Bateman

UPCOMING EVENTS @ HOPE UCC April 21, Thursday

Women Out to Lunch (Noon) Join the women of HOPE for lunch at noon. Lively conversation, great food and warm fellowship are waiting for you at Giordano’s Restaurant at 119 South Main Street, in downtown Naperville. Parking is available in the lot across from the restaurant or in the Van Buren Parking Building.

April 21, Thursday

Maundy Thursday (7 p.m. @ HOPE Center)

April 22, Friday

Good Friday – Ecumenical Service (12 p.m. @ First Congregational UCC) Good Friday – Stations of the Cross (3 – 7 p.m. @ HOPE Center) Contemplative Service – Stop in any time.

April 23, Saturday

Helping One of Our Own (8 a.m.) HOPE UCC Partners & Friends assisting LaRissa in moving from one apartment to another. If you are able to assist, please contact Pastor Timoth.

April 24, Sunday

Easter Sunday Service (10:10 a.m.)

April 25, Monday

HOPE Ministry Center - CLOSED

April 26, Tuesday

“Kitchen Team” Meeting (6 p.m. @ HOPE Center)

April 27, Wednesday

7:30 a.m. Explore Your Faith Breakfast

7:00 p.m. Book Study Group April 28 – May 1

Pastor Timoth Out of Office Attending Progressive Leaders Institute

May 3, Tuesday

Men’s Fellowship (7 p.m.) All HOPE UCC men are welcome to join us at Quincy’s on 1112 E. Ogden Avenue in Naperville from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month. For more information or questions, contact Matt Conkrite at 773-590-0824.

HOPE UCC…ON THE MOVE The long wait is almost over… This week, we will receive word from our new landlord in regard to the city zoning committee meeting. At that time we can begin to paint the walls of the new church offices, classrooms and nursery. The space is prepped and ready. Now all we will need are the able bodies to volunteer some time and energy to prepare the new church.

The best time for us to do the painting is during the daytime (taking full advantage of as much of the natural light as we can). So, we have set up some days/times where a member or members of the Design Team will be at the new church overseeing the volunteers on the painting project. If you are available to help out on any of these days/times, please let me know.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21 9 am - 5 pm MONDAY, APRIL 25 noon – 5 pm TUESDAY, APRIL 26 9 am - noon WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 9 am - noon SATURDAY, APRIL 30 9 am - 5 pm

The other piece of preparing the new church is the obtaining of a variety of items. We have already had a few very generous donations to help cover the costs of obtaining furnishings for the new church. However, we are still in need of a lot more. A full list will come out later in the week, once we have the final word from the zoning committee. However, here’s a hint of the items we are purchasing for the new church:

Storage Cabinets for the classrooms Reception Area Seating Worship Table/Podium/Riser Communication Boards Additional Folding Tables and Chairs

We will be using a good portion of the items we already have in our possession, either at the HOPE Center or at Scullen. Desks…Filing Cabinets…Tables…etc.

In addition, we will be holding a church garage sale (date yet to be determined) in order to raise some additional funds for these items. We will be selling off the things we no longer need in addition to asking HOPE UCC Partners and Friends to donate items to the sale. As I have said already, some financial contributions have already come in so if you are so inclined, please send in a contribution toward the purchase of the above items, and others. Simply state in the memo section of your check that this contribution is for the New Church Fund.

It has been wonderful feeling the energy in the church growing, week after week as we get closer to our move-in date. We are doing everything we can to make sure we are fully prepared to begin our new life there. Now, of course, it will take us a little time to “work some of the bugs out.” But we are focused on making things work as best we can from the start-up. This truly is an exciting time in the life of HOPE UCC. Please continue to pray for our church in this process. Ask God how it is that you can get involved. Consider making a financial contribution. Consider donating some time and energy to the move. Consider inviting friends and co-workers to join you on a Sunday morning and share the excitement of what is to come. God is at work in the midst of our church. And it is a truly exciting thing to see! Blessings, Pastor Timoth

HOPE UCC Welcomes New Partners On Sunday, April 17, HOPE United Church of Christ welcomed four new Partners into our faith family. We are so excited that God has led these individuals to us and we look forward to walking with them on their journeys. Tim Pierce: College teacher by day and gay marriage spouse day and night, Tim loves food and coffee. Now, there's an interesting non sequitur.

A non sequitur is what sums up Tim's life. He loves his job at NIU where he's been for 15 years teaching in the Communication department and where he supervises the freshman fundamentals of oral communication course. He is married to the witty and he believes very cute, Louis Kanolis, for over a year and a half. They got married in Iowa City, and he's waiting for Pat Robertson's prediction that the world is going to end and frogs are going to drop from the sky...but there hasn't been any signs of the apocalypse yet, though the Mayans believed that the world is going to end in 2012.

Beyond that, Tim loves camping and the outdoors provided that the weather is above freezing. Tim really cares about social justice and cares even more about things such as the local food movement. He started a fair trade coffee program at a church in Plainfield and is looking forward to helping out with the coffee program here at Hope. Louis Kanolis: Louis was born September 7, 1972. He was formerly a member with his partner, Tim Pierce, at Plainfield United Church of Christ. He loves food, wine, beer, coffee, camping, the outdoors and most of all his partner, Tim, and food. As a child, Louis grew up Greek Orthodox. Due to his upbringing in the Orthodox Church he has a surreal understanding of why people tend to leave the Catholic Church for other churches. By day he is a Spanish teacher at Minooka High School and by night, when he is not grading papers, is someone else. After 5:00 on the weekdays and weekends, Louis can be: an exercise enthusiast, a cook, a student, neurotic, relaxed, anxious, calm, a busy bee, or a lazy bum.

Overall, he can be many things to many types of people. His mom becomes frustrated with him because he is always doing something. His friends and family have seen both his busy bee and lazy bum side. Most of all Tim has seen Louis’ dichotomous personality. Tim will never let Louis forget the time when Louis said “I hate potato chips! Oh, Pringles, I like!” Mark Geiger: Last year when Mark turned 50, he made some life changing choices. First of all he moved out on his own after being in a relationship for 9 years. Second he jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, there was a parachute attached to him as well as another person in tandem behind him being that it was his first time. It was scary at first but he would do it again. And third was that he quit his job after 18 years of service and started working for another Corporate Travel Management Company. He now works in an office environment again in Downers Grove, and has never been happier with his hours and coworkers. Because of his courage to change jobs and his life, it gave Mark the strength and opportunity to set out to explore new pathways towards learning about his faith and spirituality that he was lacking.

By way of personal invitation, Mark came to HOPE United Church of Christ where he has found new and old friends that have welcomed and accepted him with open arms and hugs. Mark looks forward to all the new and exciting things that are happening and will be happening here at HOPE and plans to be involved and use his God given talents with the activities of the church. Barbara Davis: Barbara is the proud mother of Christine Maciejewski and Jason Davis and the Grandmother of Emily Davis. She was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, and a member of the Catholic Church for several years. She became a member of the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church for 18 years, raising her children in the Lutheran Church and active in both the school and Church. Barbara joined the Catholic Church following her divorce. Her spiritual journey has been multifaceted. She has been a hospice nurse for 14 years and has had the honor to participate in many Bible Study groups and visit several Christian Churches. Barbara has not felt as welcomed to a Church family and community as she has since she was first invited to attend HOPE United Church of Christ. She is looking forward to being a Partner and sharing her time and talents with HOPE UCC.

NEWS AND NOTES

Holy Week Schedule Thursday April 21 Maundy Thursday 7 p.m. Service at HOPE Center Friday April 22 Good Friday – Ecumenical Service 12 p.m. First Congregational United Church of Christ Friday April 22 Good Friday – Stations of the Cross 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at HOPE Center Contemplative Service – Stop in at any time Sunday April 24 Easter 10:10 a.m. Worship

Share in the Creating of Sacred Space On Easter Sunday, you are invited to bring fresh flowers of any kind to be a part of the worship table. Lilies, Tulips, Daffodils, you name it. You may then take the flowers home with you after worship or leave them to be shared with members of our community.

A Seminarian In Our Midst Congratulations to Cindi Knox who following her recent seminary Midler Review has received her letter stating that she is accepted as a candidate for the Master of Divinity degree program at Chicago Theological Seminary. We are so very proud of the work Cindi has done and continues to do and we pledge our prayers and support as she continues toward Ordination.

Taking The Bible Seriously, But Not Literally – Prayer Thursday evenings May 5 – May 26, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. HOPE Center, 9931 S. 248th Avenue, Naperville

To continue our conversations on taking the Bible seriously, but not literally, Ginny Bateman and Pastor Timoth will be offering a four-week series on Scripture and Prayer. Please mark the dates in your calendar now and watch the HOPE Happenings for more information.

Do you play a musical instrument? Would you like to play with HOPE's band on Easter Sunday morning? Please let Keith Cornell know what instrument you will be playing as soon as possible so he can send you your music. We have some great people lined up already and could always use some more. Let Keith know by this Sunday if you are interested in playing.

The Outreach/Fund Raising Ministry Needs Your Help We are looking for a couple of items for our upcoming "Game-a-Palooza" night. If you have some "food" gift cards in your possession that you know you will never use and are not expired, please consider donating them for our "Wine and Dine" Raffle. We are looking for gift cards and bottles of wine to be donated for this raffle. If you have either or both items to donate, please give to Keith Cornell at worship on Sunday. Don't forget to invite your friends to this great evening of fun!!

Progressive Dinner on May 21, 2011. Starting at 6:00 p.m. you will be moving house to house for each course. Each house will host a different course and when you finish, you will be full, of course! Please sign up with Shannon Lane or Jeanne Smith by May 15th. If you are willing to host, please let us know when you sign up.

Where Do You Want Me to Put the Rug? It's about the rugs, folks. You know, the two up front every Sunday. The ones with the kids sprawled out, occupying themselves with puzzles . . . coloring . . . card playing . . . and not really listening to the service. Or are they?

I think we might be surprised.

Anyway, the rugs have a history. I've been a part of this august body (i.e., HOPE UCC) less than a year now so I can only go by what I've been told by those in our Worship Ministry meetings.

The existence and placement of these rugs up front and just off center came out of members of HOPE United Church of Christ way back when deciding to make a place —creating a space —specifically for children in worship.

It seems to me Christ would have liked that. After all He was the one that said, "Hey, leave the kids alone and let them come closer to me!" So how do we, as a body, let the children come closer — how do we honor the younger ones among us and still maintain a worshipful atmosphere?

In anticipation of our move into the new facility, the Worship Ministry wants to be very intentional about creating a sacred space. As Roberta so aptly describes it, "We're moving from a cafetorium to a sanctuary."

So we're spending quite a bit of time considering what worship will look and feel like once we set up residency on Quincy Avenue. To do this, we are looking at every aspect of the service including placement of, purpose of and need for . . . the rugs.

The feedback of the congregation means a lot. Your feedback. What are your thoughts regarding the rugs? Do you like having them? Are they important to you? Do you find them disruptive? Could they be better placed? Would you like to see us continue to use them? Do you have other ideas about how to make better use of them? Have they outlived their purpose?

Please let us know! Complete a feedback form and place it in the offering plate or talk to Keith Cornell, Roberta James, Mary Dycus, Marie Higgins, Theresa Donahue, Nancy Thornton or Pastor Timoth. Your opinions and insights mean a lot and can help shape a time of meaningful worship for all. Successful Manna Gift Card Fundraising Since January 1, we have raised $969.67 through the Manna Gift Card fundraiser. If you haven’t tried this yet, or if you have questions, please ask Pastor Timoth or Mark Duebner to get full details. It is truly the easiest way for our church to make money without asking anyone to give more than they are currently. Let’s see how many people we can get involved and set our goals high. With a program this easy, we will accomplish whatever we set out to do.

Softball Players! While we haven’t been able to field a full team these past couple of summers, there is still a softball league out there for the Naperville churches. They have 2-3 churches who can’t field a full team either and are always ready to pick up a few more players. Is there anyone in HOPE Church-ville that still wants to play? Still Tuesdays after work in the May, June, early July time frame at Calvary Church (Rt. 59). If you’re interested, contact Jane Trotta and she can get the info to the league on behalf of HOPE.

The Green Earth Institute Has Asked For HOPE's Help!!! We will be partnering with the Green Earth Institute in May for our Jesus has left the building and we're following him project (more information on this to follow soon!) In the mean time, they have asked (begged!) for our help for their annual fair which is on SUNDAY MAY 1, 2011.

We have helped with the fair in past years, and it is a lovely, beautiful day to get out and learn more about the organic farm, see presentations, and spend the time with others who support organic farming. One of our own, Michael Hulbert, is the "emcee" for the day, and has been doing this for many years.

If you can help out with this effort, in a two hour time slot, please email me and we can firm up the details. Thanks!

Valerie Tucker tuckervm@comcast.net

Successful Manna Gift Card Fundraising Since January 1, we have raised $969.67 through the Manna Gift Card fundraiser. If you haven’t tried this yet, or if you have questions, please ask Pastor Timoth or Mark Duebner to get full details. It is truly the easiest way for our church to make money without asking anyone to give more than they are currently. Let’s see how many people we can get involved and set our goals high. With a program this easy, we will accomplish whatever we set out to do.

Do you do your grocery shopping at Dominick’s? Jewel? Caputo's? Then buy a gift card before you go shopping. Buy gas at BP? Speedway? Arco? Gas City? Exxon? Shell? Take advantage of the fundraiser and help with the church finances for 2011. And of course they are also the perfect gift for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and other celebrations. It takes a little planning but it is a great way to save time and gas on gift shopping and help HOPE! Turn your order in on Sunday at Worship and you will get the cards the following Sunday.

Manna Specials:

• Bath & Body Works 5% Bonus April 1 - April 29 Purchase a Bath & Body Works $10 or $25 Gift Card – HOPE will receive 19%!

Check out www.bathandbodyworks.com for the newest spring fragrances, Easter goodies or Mother's Day baskets while shopping online or at a Bath & Body Works nearest you.

• Groupon Gift Card Now Available! Purchase a Groupon $25 Gift Card – HOPE will receive 6%!

Groupon is a website that features unbeatable offers everyday on items to see, eat or buy in hundreds of cities worldwide. Whether it's half off at a neighborhood sushi restaurant, 75% off a massage and facial or 90% off a hot air balloon ride, Groupon can offer you the best deal in town. Create a free account at www.groupon.com to start exploring the daily deals Groupon can offer. gift card may be redeemed online at www.groupon.com . To redeem, card-older must be an account-holder. No expiration or fee applied.

• JCPenney Portrait Coupon Purchase a JCPenney $25 or $100 Gift Card – HOPE will receive 5%.

Receive a portrait coupon with every JCPenney gift card purchased. Coupon is for FREE 10 x 13 traditional portrait and free sitting fees. Also receive additional portrait sheets for $3.99 (reg. $9.99) and save 20% on collections.Schedule your appointment at www.jcpportraits.com or call for studio locations call 1.800.58.SMILE. Coupons Available while quantities last.

• American Girl and Giordano’s gift cards are no longer available

AND… Fannie May Gift Cards One of the better deals currently is through Fannie May. And…with Mother’s Day coming up, it is the perfect gift card to purchase. Here’s the deal…when you purchase a $20 gift card for Fannie May Candies through the Manna Gift Card Program, you get a gift card with $20 to spend at any local Fannie May store (and there are several in the area). And then, the best part…HOPE UCC gets 24% of that sale. So for each $20 gift card that is purchased, HOPE UCC gets $4.80. It is a win, win situation each and every time.

Order forms are available at the welcome table on Sunday mornings or on our website at the following link: sharehope.org/#/what-we-do/fundraising. If everyone pitches in and supports this program, HOPE UCC’s fundraising efforts for 2011 can turn out to be a HUGE success.

Looking for 'Hosts and Hostesses' Friendly HOPErs needed to greet family and visitors as they enter our home. We need partners who will help set up the welcome table while still at Scullen and pass out bulletins. When we are in our new home you will be passing out bulletins and directing people to the sanctuary. For more information please contact, Mary Dycus.

Got a Couple Free Hours to Give to Your Church? Looking for a way to serve the church but just not sure what you can offer? How about being a part of a “cleaning team?” At HOPE UCC, we do not employ a cleaning service for the HOPE Center and instead rely on HOPE UCC Partners and Friends to do the cleaning. We are looking for individuals or families who can volunteer a couple hours to do general cleaning, vacuuming, dusting, wiping down counters, etc. Volunteer for once a month, twice a month, once every other month, whatever works into your schedule. With the increased use of the HOPE Center and the anticipation of moving to our new location, we would like to increase the number of people involved in this volunteer opportunity and increase the frequency of the cleaning as well.

If you are interested in volunteering or have further questions, contact Gail Bassett in the church office at 630-922-0470 or via email at hope@sharehope.org. Annual PADS Steak Fry – May 11, 2011

The HOPE Grill Team is ready, spring is almost in the air and we are ready to do our annual PADS Steak Fry for the PADS guests. This year the date is Wednesday May 11, 2011. As you can imagine the guest list has grown, and we will need more funds to pay for the many chickens, steaks, potatoes, salad, veggies and Ice Cream to help feed the many in need. Each year the cost of purchasing these scrumptious supplies runs around $600.

We are the only Church in the PADS community to offer this end of the season treat for the many who have no homes. They face the challenges of living on the street all year. The guests look forward to this event every year and it's a treat to all to see their joy in enjoying such a special meal. We normally provide food for up to 75 people. Any donation you wish to make will be happily accepted. You may bring your donation to Church and give it to Barb Zigterman, or you may add a check to the offering plate, using one of the PADS envelopes found in the bulletin on the first Sunday of each month.

We are also in need of several people, families or groups willing to help set up for this event. Please contact Valerie Tucker (630-542-1315 or tuckervm@comcast.net) to be an on site helper. The HOPE community has always given generously and the guests of PADS appreciate your loving generosity. Jesus Has Left the Building and We're Following Him® For our Jesus Has Left the Building and We're Following Him projects, we would like to offer an opportunity for lunch and fellowship after our work time is complete. Each time we may do this a little differently. After our last project, we gathered at Portillo’s, which was a welcoming and family-friendly location to join one another for a meal and some laughs.

Another way we could continue our time together would be to gather in someone's home or backyard. Our next project will be in central Naperville (more details to follow!) on May 29th. If this sounds like a way you would like to be active in the Jesus Has Left the Building and We're Following Him program, please contact me. This is something new, so we will work out the details together.

Our ultimate goal is to provide an opportunity to share a meal and fellowship once our work is complete.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OPENING YOUR HOME FOR THE MAY DATE, please email by Sunday, April 24th, so we can work out the details. If you cannot do it this month, but would like to at some point in the future, I'd love to know that, too. Thanks!

Valerie Tucker tuckervm@comcast.net

Delegates Needed The Fox Valley Association of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ is holding its spring meeting on Saturday May 7, 2011. For the first time, the Fox Valley Association will be joining with the Chicago Metropolitan Association for this gathering. Held at the Westchester Community United Church of Christ, the event program will be “Racing Across the Lines” featuring Dr. Deborah L. Plummer.

Each church in the Fox Valley Association is asked to provide three Delegates to the meeting, representing the local church. Two of the Delegates are adults and one is a youth. Currently, HOPE UCC has one adult Delegate. If you would be interested in representing HOPE UCC as a Delegate or simply need more information on the Spring meeting, please contact Pastor Timoth at 630-922-0470 or via email at pastor@sharehope.org. Volunteer Opportunities – June 3 & 4

The Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ is holding this year’s Annual Meeting nearby in Oak Brook at the DoubleTree Hotel. The event is planned for Friday and Saturday, June 3rd and 4th. All Partners and Friends of the local churches are invited to participate in this year’s meeting and be a part of the work of the wider church. There are two unique ways to help out with this year’s meeting. First, you can volunteer to bake/provide cookies for the annual meeting. The abundance of cookies at

denominational meetings is a great joy! And we have the opportunity of assisting in that bit of hospitality. If you are able to provide cookies, please contact Pastor Timoth. It would be great if HOPE UCC could provide 30 dozen cookies for the event. Second, the Annual Meeting Planning Committee is in need of a variety of volunteers. Here is a list of volunteer positions with brief descriptions. If you are interested in volunteering for one or both of the days of the Annual Meeting, please let Pastor Timoth know. Greeters – to greet meeting attendees as they enter facility for Annual Meeting Floaters – to provide information and directions to attendees Cookie Keepers – maintain the “cookie” table for the meeting Concierge/Information Table – provide information and directions to attendees Registration – to assist in registration of attendees Workshop volunteers – to provide assistance as needed to worship facilitators Bookstore volunteer – to provide assistance as needed to bookstore vendor(s) Display volunteer – to provide assistance as needed to display vendors Worship volunteers – to participate in communion, offerings, and welcoming attendees into worship. Childcare volunteer – licensed/certified childcare person to attend to children needing this service Housing volunteers – to provide information pertaining to meeting for attendees staying in dormitory Volunteer Check-In – volunteer to assist with “check-in” and “sign-out” of volunteers Volunteers will check in at a designated “Volunteer Check-in” area (TBD) when arriving on site to the meeting. They will then be given their volunteer assignment with information packet concerning the Annual Meeting. When volunteers have completed their assignments they need to return to aforementioned area and sign out. Volunteer needs range from 11am Friday until 1pm Saturday.

PEACE AND JUSTICE Standing Up for Our Children A difficult compromise was reached for this year’s budget that includes painful cuts for children, the Children’s Defense Fund reports that Head Start, Pell grants, and community health centers were all saved at least for this year!

Now the risk is greater. The future and soul of our country is at stake in Washington’s ongoing budget battles. House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan is now pushing a radical and reckless future budget that would slash $6 trillion over 10 years, completely dismantle Medicare and Medicaid, and destroy critical lifelines for poor children and their families—all while giving away huge new tax cuts to big corporations and the very wealthy. This is less a budget proposal than an ideological assault on the foundation of a fair society, with the least among us poised to become the principal victims.

Now is your chance to stand up for children and the poor in our own community! Disgracefully, children are the poorest group of Americans and the younger and more helpless they are, the poorer they are. Will you help protect these voiceless children who cannot vote, lobby or defend themselves from these immoral and destructive plans? Please tell Senators Durbin and Kirk and your Representative how wrong this House budget is while they’re back home from April 18 – April 29.

Children did not cause our budget deficits. Cut billionaires, not babies. Cut corporations, not children. Don’t keep depriving the poor to continue subsidizing the rich. Slashing early childhood programs and education will cost more in the long run and jeopardize our economic future. Invest in our children now to strengthen our economy and balance our budgets in the future.

Together, we can and must raise a ruckus to stop the budget massacre of our neediest young. BETTER WORLD Earth Day 2011 This year Earth Day falls on Good Friday. Here are some helpful hints on how to celebrate Earth Day all year long.

Learn what’s in your food, where it came

from and who it impacts.

Where possible, buy food that is in season

from local food producers.

Eat sustainable seafood — one of the

only things that we eat that we still get

from the wild.

Eat more fruits and vegetables — it's

good for your health and the planet's.