Ravenswood UCC 2050 W. Pensacola Ave

Chicago, Il 60618 773-549-5472 (office)

www.ravenswooducc.org Return Service Requested

Worship on Sunday Mornings at

10:30 am

Childcare and Sunday School for Children Ages 1-12

Community Fellowship Hour

Sundays after Worship

C a l e n d a r

July 27 — Outdoor Worship

August 24 — Outdoor Worship

September 7 — Homecoming Sunday

September 14 — Ben Goldlust Baptism

October 19 — Oktoberfest! 12-5 pm

November 16 — Totenfest at 10:30 am

SEE YOU SOON!

Return Service Requested

B i r t h d a y s

Ravenswood United Church of Christ Mission Statement: We Make God’s Love Visible!

July

7/2 Gerald Wilkins

7/2 Sarah Coulter

7/2 Rachel Puschmann

7/4 Doris Hammer

7/4 Benjamin Goldlust

7/7 Nancy Mayer

7/11 Peter McQueen

7/16 James DeSalvo

7/17 Lenore Waters

7/23 Andrew Rodriguez

August

8/1 Robert Devine

8/2 Bernie Goldlust

8/5 Liz Moleski

8/5 Kelle Oeste

8/10 Russell Clausen

8/11 Patrick Rodriguez

8/14 Mary Kay Devine

8/15 Karen Miller

8/18 Elisabeth Zak

8/21 Meghan Oeste

8/24 Lucy Coulter

8/31 Henrietta Baltes

REYG Visits B’Hai Temple

On a beautiful spring day, the Ravens-

wood-Epiphany Youth Group (REYG) made

a visit to the B’Hai Temple in Wilmette to

learn about interfaith understanding and

our role as Christians in an increasingly

multi-cultural world. Pictured above are

some of our young people in front of the

beautiful temple, considered one of the

modern “wonders of the world.”

9/3 LuAnn Nicolai

9/8 Laurie Pighetti

9/8 Cindy Retz-McGraff

9/9 Jason Goldlust

9/10 Ryan Oeste

9/13 Diane Behrens

9/17 James DeSalvo

September

9/18 Walter Hartge

9/20 Joseph Rodriguez

9/21 Douglas Oeste

9/21 David Zemke

9/29 Chris Weakley

9/29 Tom Zabroske

9/30 Andrew Pighetti

Maifest On May 18th the church family gathered at

Chicago’s Brauhaus for our very own Mai-

fest celebration. We enjoyed great food and

drink, and thrilled to the sounds of authentic

German music. Special thanks to Kathy

McCrea and Jim Zabroske for organizing the

outing and to our friends Harry and Gunther

Kempf for being our hosts! Danke Schoen!

Blessing of the Pets There is no better place to be on a Sunday morning than

in the courtyard of the church on a beautiful day for our

church’s annual Blessing of the Pets. This year we had a

number of visitors and a spirited crowd. Pastor Jason told

the story of St. Francis and his love for animals and he

blessed six dogs, three stuffed animals and one turtle!

After worship, our guests enjoyed refreshments under the

Linden tree and mingled in the courtyard long after the

services had ended. Visit our facebook page to see more

pictures of Blessing of the Pets.

Confirmation To prepare its young people for a life of faith, Ra-

venswood UCC conducts a two-year confirmation

education program with our sister congregation,

Epiphany UCC. The class of 2014 included six per-

sons who stepped forward to confirm their vows

and become full members of the church. RUCC’s

own Raynaldo Varela Puschmann is pictured third

from the left. Congrats to the Class of 2014!

S p r i n g H a p p e n i n g s a t R U C C !

The Echo The Newsletter of Ravenswood United Church of Christ

Summer, 2014 Volume 6, Issue 2

one of my older children (Lucy—9yrs

or Charles—6 yrs) to the church to

help me with my work. Sometimes

they fold bulletins, or pick up around

the church, or else play in the gym.

This week, I had my son Charles along

with me when I went to visit a mem-

ber of the church in a nursing facility.

Before we entered, I reviewed expec-

tations for behavior with Charlie and

told him the lady we were visiting was

very sick and we were going to be

with her, to pray for her and, hopeful-

ly, make her feel better.

When we entered the room, I intro-

duced Charles as Ravenswood UCC’s

Associate Pastor and we proceeded to

chat with the woman and her family.

Her eyes lit up at the sight of the little

boy and she perked up in her wheel-

chair. They later shared popsicles to-

gether and when we said our parting

prayer, Charles stood in the circle, the

young blessing the old, and vice versa.

We like to speak of the Ravenswood

family and when we share good times

and hard times together it brings us

closer as sisters and brothers in God’s

great family. It is a joy for me to share

my family with you in the ministry of the

church. Thank you for the opportunity

to serve. —Pastor Jason

Ravenswood UCC is part of the Chicago Coa-

lition of Welcoming Churches. Every June

the CCWC sponsors a delegation of church

folk to march in the Gay Pride Parade.

Our message is simple: God loves all peo-

ple, gay or straight. God made everyone in

the divine image and God made us beautiful!

Members of Ravenswood UCC marched and

carried our church’s banner. Thanks to all

who participated to spread the word of love!

Dust off your lederhosen, shine up your dancing

shoes, and be sure to work up a good appetite,

because Oktoberfest 2014 is going to the best!

This year’s celebration begins at 12:00 on Sun-

day October 19 and will feature bratwurst, sauer-

kraut, potato salad and dozens of home made

goodies. Quench your thirst with a cold beer or

glass of wine and dance to the sounds of Chica-

go’s renowned Phenix Band. There will be a

bouncy house and games for the kids, as well as

a raffle with great prizes. See you at the ‘Fest!

P a s t o r ’ s P a p e r P u l p i t

R U C C i n t h e P r i d e P a r a d e !

O k t o b e r f e s t – O c t . 1 9 , 2 0 1 4

P a g e 2 V o l u m e 6 , I s s u e 2

Wisdom from a

fortune cookie:

“Where we stand

determines what we see.

During the course of an

ordinary week, I wear a

lot of different hats. On

Sundays, I am the preacher. On Mon-

days, I am office administrator, open-

ing mail and handling the church’s

affairs. Some days I have to play

janitor, as I did last week when the

church basement flooded. But every

day of the week, I am a dad.

On the occasions when my fatherly

duties and my ministerial duties col-

lide, I often find myself bringing along

Rev. Jason W. Coulter

(L-R) Pastor Jason, Jacqueline Puschmann, Brent

Keller, Marsha Harman, Brittany Keller, Ray Varela

properly housed...Barbara Kroner who is mourning the

passing of a dear neighbor and friend…Doris Hammer

who continues to struggle with severe pain in her legs

and back...Sue McDaniels who received a diagnosis of

cancer and is beginning treatment later this sum-

mer...Marina Ramirez who became sick in Costa Rica

and injured her foot….Fred Conrad who experienced se-

vere back trouble that kept him away from his organ for

a Sunday….Diane Behrens who is undergoing chemo-

therapy for a brain cancer. We are glad the treatments

are working!....Rachel Puschmann who lost her brother

earlier this summer….

On Palm Sunday, the church

blessed another of our new ba-

bies with the waters of baptism.

Gemma June Taylor, daughter of

Rob Taylor and Michelle Mar-

quardt was welcomed into the

family of Christ and the fellow-

ship of Ravenswood UCC. After

worship the family hosted a deli-

cious ham luncheon which was

enjoyed by the entire church

family. God bless you Gemma!

All who helped with our Easter Breakfast—especially

Joe Alesi and Doug Oeste. We had more than 100

people for Easter services! What a crowd!....Bob

Eichler and Karen Miller who are anchor ushers and

do a great job readying the church for worship on

Sundays….Don Oeste who helped as steward for the

storytelling event at the church in May….Ed and Ra-

chel Puschmann who spearheaded the cleanup of

the church following a flood at the end of

June….Patrick Rodriguez, Tony Garcia, Don Oeste

and all who helped set up for our Blessing of the

Pets service...Marsha Harman, Don Oeste, and Lucy

Coulter for offering their musical talents in worship

this summer while the choir is on break...Maura and

Joe Djurkowitsch for their thoughtful notes….

were delighted to welcome Ben on Doris’

birthday….Daniel Oeste who graduated from

high school and will continue his studies this

fall at the College of DuPage…. Laura Jen-

nison Reed who just received a call as min-

ister of the Christian Church of Villa Park

(Disciples of Christ). Laura served as stu-

dent pastor of RUCC in 2010-2011…

Jacqueline Puschmann who graduated from

Lane Tech and is off to college at Carnegie

Mellon University in Pittsburgh… Charles

Coulter who is no longer a kindergartner!

Bill and Joyce Marzano who became the par-

ents of twins (a boy, Leo and a girl, Mae) on

March 25!.....Heidi Lindemann, our former stu-

dent pastor who graduated from Chicago Theo-

logical Seminary in May… Chuck Matz who cel-

ebrated the birth of another grandchild, Lucy….

Kevin Voeks on his new job in maintenance at

Queen of All Saints Church...The Goldlust Fami-

ly who welcomed a new addition to their tribe.

Benjamin Goldlust was born on the 4th of July

to Matt and Katie Goldlust. Grandma Dawn

Goldlust and Great-Grandma Doris Hammer

Ravenswood Community Corner

T h a n k s T o . . .

C o n g r a t s t o . . .

P a g e 3 V o l u m e 6 , I s s u e 2

“If you judge people,

you will have no time

left to love them.”

-- Mother Theresa

Prayers for Gisela Uecker. She had surgery just before the

4th of July for a tumor in her neck and contracted an infec-

tion which weakened her heart. She is gravely ill and in

need of our prayers…..Nancy Foote who is mourning the

passing of her father, John…...Susanne Raab as she under-

goes chemotherapy for cancer in her colon….Henrietta Bal-

tes as her brother in law, Asa, is in very poor health…. Rev.

Charles Mayer whose health and mobility continue to de-

cline due to Parkinson’s Disease….Paula and Norma Murphy

who are grieving over the tragic death of their friend, Ashley

Walls….Tony Garcia who struggles to stay healthy and

T h i n k i n g o f . . .

Gemma June Taylor Baptism