Journey Worship - Spring 2010


Journey Worship
Journey Worship Celebrating our continuing journey with Jesus!

Spring 2010 Worship Schedule

You are invited to share worship with us on Saturdays at 5:00 p.m.

APRIL
04/24 – Verlee A. Copeland, preaching

MAY JOURNEY
May 1 – “A New Commandment”
May 8 – “What Are You Waiting For?”
May 15 – “That They May All Be One” – Final Journey

If you have any questions or comments about this year's offering please feel free to contact
Rev. Thom Parrott-Sheffer
, Minister for Mission & Outreach, at The Union Church of Hinsdale.

Hank Maxwell Peace & Justice Intern

It is great pleasure that we announce Chris Davey as the first recipient of the Hank Maxwell Peace & Justice Internship. Chris Davey was selected from a field of ten well qualified and deserving applicants.

 

The Hank Maxwell Peace & Justice Internship is a cooperative ministry with Citizen Action Illinois (one of our ministry partners). Citizen Action will provide a full experience in social advocacy as a practice and a career, in addition they will provide the on-going supervision and guidance. The Hank Maxwell Peace & Justice Committee and Rev. Parrott-Sheffer will provide the opportunity for theological reflection and the church provides the stipend which supports this internship.

 

Chris will be working full-time with Citizen Action Illinois during his summer break from the University of Chicago. Following his experience he will be sharing his learnings and reflections with the church through newsletter articles and presentations at several groups within the church.

 

The Hank Maxwell Peace & Justice Internship is designed to foster the spirit of the advocacy and social involvement exampled by its namesake; as well as provide an experience of social advocacy as a threshold to potential calling to this work as a vocation.

 

We are excited by what lies ahead for Chris and ask that you keep him in your prayers.

Music Sunday - April 25, 2010

After much talk about our weekend worship schedule at Union Church, our Executive Council has voted to have two Sunday morning services beginning September 12. Both services will be in the Sanctuary. The 9:00 service will be traditional in style and format with music mainly led by the Chancel Choir and organ. The 10:30 service will be more varied in style using a variety of instruments that include piano, guitar and drums. Our three handbell choirs, children and youth choirs and women’s ensemble will participate occasionally at both services. There is much planning and preparation to be done before next fall to fulfill our goal of providing musical excellence at both services.

I would like to issue a special invitation to new Chancel Choir members. Through the years a number of people have said to me that they would like to join the choir but could not commit to weekly Thursday evening rehearsals in addition to the Sunday morning commitment. Beginning this fall, we plan to meet on Sunday mornings at 8:15, sing at the 9:00 service, have a short coffee break, rehearse until around 11:00 for the next Sunday, and eliminate the regular Thursday evening rehearsals. We will need to have an evening rehearsal with the brass ensemble before Easter and an occasional extra rehearsal if we do another program with combined choirs from several churches like the very successful Advent Concert and Hymn Festival we did last December, and we would like to have a "kick-off" rehearsal on Thursday, September 9 to work ahead a few weeks and have a social time to welcome (we hope) new members, but the regular weekly time commitment will be reduced to less than three hours on Sunday morning. This will give us approximately one hour less rehearsal time each week than we have now. Our goal is to have the 9:00 service end at 9:50 on most Sundays. Instead of singing two anthems, which we usually do now, we will sing one anthem each Sunday. The choir will have more presence in the service and take a larger leadership role by singing introits, prayer and benediction responses and restoring processionals and recessionals. We will have our summer "shirt sleeve choir" (no robes) on the second Sundays in July and August. We will meet in the choir room at 9:00 and sing at the 10:00 service on July 11 and August 8. Please accept this invitation to come and see how you like it on those Sundays before you make a commitment for the fall.

I don’t know yet what name the group of musicians who provide leadership for the new 10:30 service will choose, but I hope that musicians who are currently active in the Journey and JAM services will continue in the new service. We will also welcome singers and instrumentalists who are not currently participating in the Music Ministry of Union Church who would like to join the new group.

Led by Brad Nye, the Journey Band will participate in the 10:00 service on Music Sunday, April 25, along with Cantate, our new women’s ensemble led by Pat Deckert, the Chancel Choir led by Todd Diehl, and the Allegro Handbell Ensemble. On Music Sunday we will list the names in the bulletin of the approximately 125 people who are involved in the Music Ministry of Union Church. We also thank the parents who support and encourage our children and youth, and the members of the congregation who support our bell choir tours through Market Day and our annual Spaghetti Dinner.

The Allegro Handbell Ensemble will depart after the 10:00 service on Sunday, June 6 for a short tour in Michigan. Our next European tour will be in June, 2011. This will be the choir’s 36th tour since 1975, and will be my 32nd annual tour and 8th European tour with the choir.

This annual Music Sunday page for the Good News should be mostly about the Music Ministry of Union Church, but I would like to take a moment of personal privilege this year. The photo above was taken when I was 12 at the Methodist Church in Welcome, North Carolina where I began playing three services per week in 1961. 2011 will be my 50th year as a church musician. During those years I have played for at least one church service each Sunday and for two or more services each Sunday for 45 of those years. That comes out to approximately 4750 Sunday services plus an estimated 500 funerals and maybe 1000 weddings. This information is a prelude to my announcement that I plan to retire from Union Church next year.

My final service will be on Sunday, August 14, 2011, which will complete 32 ½ years on the church staff. It’s been a great run and I look forward to giving my leadership and support as we move into a new worship schedule and format with all the challenges and possibilities that brings. I would like for my last year at Union Church to be filled with the highest quality music we can produce for worship services that are presented for the glory of God. Thank you for all the support you give to our Music Ministry.

Michael Surratt
Director of Music Ministries
Union Church of Hinsdale, U.C.C.

Spring 2010 Work Tour

Spring 2010 Work Tour
March 26- April 3, 2010 @ Appalachian South Folklife Center in Pipestem, WV

Follow our Work Tour Students Progress Online

The high school youth of Union Church take a week off during Spring Break and have a blast working, impacting people’s lives and in the process, changing how they look at people, God, and themselves. You can follow our progress via our Posterous page using text, photo and video from the trip at http://uchyouth.posterous.com

About Our Hosts This Year

ASFC was started in 1965. We are a nonprofit who instills the values of freedom and self-reliance. We have a strong emphasis on service learning that empowers people to make life decisions that enrich the community and world at large. We strengthen grassroots organizations by providing a low cost solution for gathering their members together. Our inclusive atmosphere gives everyone regardless of faith, race, age or origin a chance to actively express themselves for the greater good.

College Scholarships offered by Women’s Association


College Scholarships offered by Women’s Association

Once again this year, the Women’s Association invites current or soon-to-be college students to apply for a Women’s Association Scholarship. Scholarship awards are based on a combination of demonstrated commitment to service through participation in Union Church activities and/or school/community activities and financial need. Anyone associated with Union Church may apply.

Application forms are available in the church office, on the Women’s Association bulletin board, from Jeremy Hylen, or they may be downloaded here. Completed applications may be dropped of in the Women’s Association mailbox in the church's print shop or mailed to:

Union Church of Hinsdale
Women’s Association Scholarship
137 S. Garfield Ave.
Hinsdale, IL 60521

Applications are due April 19th, 2010. Names of scholarship recipients will be announced at the Women’s Association May Luncheon. Questions? Call or email Lucy Tarabour (630) 920.0636, lctarabour@yahoo.com.

2010 Hank Maxwell Recognition for Peace and Justice

2010 Hank Maxwell Recognition for Peace and Justice
(Pictured above from left to right: Connie Black, Zoe Shively and Barb Keller)

On March 7, 2010, during Social Justice Sunday celebration, three members of Union Church received the 2010 Hank Maxwell Recognition for Peace and Justice. This recognition is given to people nominated by members of the congregation who exemplify a commitment to social justice and peace in their lifestyle and activities. This year the recognition went to Connie Black, for her tireless advocacy for justice particularly in the Prison Ministry at Union; Barb Keller, for her long history of social justice work both within the church and in the wider world and her participation in the Soup Ministry here at church; and Zoe Shively, a youth who works at church, at school and at home to promote the cause of socio and eco justice.

Congratulations to the them all...